unbeliever

noun

un·​be·​liev·​er ˌən-bə-ˈlē-vər 

1

: one that does not believe in a particular religious faith

2

: one that does not believe : an incredulous person : doubter, skeptic

Synonyms

• disbeliever
• doubter
• doubting Thomas
• questioner
• skeptic

Examples of unbeliever in a Sentence

a hardheaded unbeliever who demanded to see concrete evidence of any alleged UFO activity

Recent Examples on the Web

An app called Krishna, for example, has already advised killing unbelievers and supporting India's ruling party. —Scott Shapiro, WIRED, 8 Jan. 2024

To have reservations about something that is treated as sacrosanct is to be an unbeliever, or worse, a heretic, and thus someone to be cast out. —Ian Buruma, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2023

As director of Number 10’s in-house think-tank, the Policy Unit, the unbeliever in question has hitherto been an obscure figure in Boris Johnson’s high command, albeit an important one. —The Economist, 27 June 2020

For me, this person is always an unbeliever and the strain of making him see is considerable. —Stephen Mirarchi, National Review, 28 Dec. 2019

The isolated world of Appalachian snake handlers is the setting for this drama about a pastor’s daughter who falls in love with an unbeliever. —Cary Darling |, Houston Chronicle, 8 Aug. 2019

The philosophe wondered what was left to unbelievers in the way of ethical guidelines. —Dan Hofstadter, WSJ, 15 Feb. 2019

Decree defeat, humiliation and unbelief to the unbelievers. —Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2018

Melnik was a mocker and an unbeliever, a lecher, a contrary creature. —Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unbeliever

• achiever
• believer
• deceiver
• perceiver
• receiver
• reliever
• retriever
• transceiver
• cleaver
• fever
• leaver
• weaver

Kids Definition

unbeliever

noun

un·​be·​liev·​er ˌən-bə-ˈlē-vər 

1

: one who does not believe in a particular religious faith : infidel

2

: one who does not believe : doubter

unbelieving

-ˈlē-viŋ

adjective

unbelievingly adverb