Nihilists
/ˈnaɪ.ə.lɪsts/noun
People who reject established values, beliefs, or meaning.
Did you know?The root behind *nihilist* is the same Latin *nihil* that gave English phrases like *nihil obstat* and *nihilism*, turning “nothing” into a philosophical weapon.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ne-
“not, no”
Latin
Latin
nihil
“nothing”
Late Latin
Latin
nihilismus
“doctrine of nothingness”
19th Century
French
nihiliste
“one who rejects established beliefs or authority”
19th Century
English
nihilist
“a person who rejects all religious and moral principles”
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