Meaning: The act of rejecting or renouncing something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: His abnegation of personal gain was admirable.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• self-denial
• renunciation

Antonyms:

• self-indulgence
• acceptance

Meaning: A philosophy that emphasizes the absurdity of human existence.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Absurdism is explored in many of Camus's works.

Category: Philosophy › Existentialism

Synonyms: philosophy of the absurd

Meaning: To infinity; endlessly.

Part of speech: adverb

Example: The discussion went on ad infinitum.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms: endlessly

Meaning: The belief in or pursuit of noble ideals, often unrealistically.

Part of speech: noun

Example: His idealism led him to pursue social justice.

Category: Philosophy › Ethics

Meaning: Characterized by idealism; unrealistically aiming for perfection.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: Her idealistic views sometimes clash with reality.

Category: Philosophy › Ethics

Meaning: the belief that actions influence future events

Part of speech: noun

Example: She believes in karma and that good deeds will be rewarded.

Category: Philosophy

Meaning: the practice of deliberately preventing the facts or full details of something

Part of speech: noun

Example: Obscurantism can hinder progress in science.

Category: Philosophy › Knowledge

Synonyms:

• ignorance
• obfuscation

Meaning: a person who promotes obscurantism

Part of speech: noun

Example: The obscurantist resisted the new ideas.

Category: Philosophy › Knowledge

Synonyms: ignorant person

Meaning: The inherent nature or essence of someone or something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Understanding the quiddity of the problem is essential.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• essence
• nature

Meaning: A doctrine of passive acceptance and inner peace.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Quietism emphasizes tranquility over action.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• calmness
• peacefulness

Meaning: A final settlement or conclusion, often referring to death.

Part of speech: noun

Example: He met his quietus peacefully.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• death
• end

Meaning: The most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

Part of speech: noun

Example: She is the quintessence of grace.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• essence
• embodiment

Meaning: a blank slate or an empty state

Part of speech: noun

Example: The child is a tabula rasa, ready to learn.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms: blank slate

Meaning: the state of being empty or lacking content

Part of speech: noun

Example: The vacuity of his argument was evident.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• emptiness
• void

Antonyms: fullness

Meaning: an assessment based on personal values

Part of speech: noun

Example: His comments were a value judgement.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• evaluation
• assessment

Meaning: containing personal beliefs or opinions

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The article was value-laden.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• biased
• subjective

Meaning: the active principle in Chinese philosophy, opposite of yin

Part of speech: noun

Example: In Taoism, yang represents light and activity.

Category: Philosophy

Meaning: a state of calm and meditation

Part of speech: noun

Example: She found her zen in the quiet garden.

Category: Philosophy

Synonyms:

• calm
• peace

Antonyms:

• stress
• chaos