disbelief
She stared at the lottery ticket in disbelief.
She was unable to accept that she had won the lottery.
the inability or refusal to accept that something is true or real
His expression was one of pure disbelief when he heard the news.
He looked completely unable to accept what he had heard.
To the disbelief of the jury, the defendant was found not guilty.
The jury was shocked that the defendant was acquitted.
Often used in contexts where someone is surprised or shocked by information that contradicts their expectations.
Collocations
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Collocations
Use 'in disbelief' to describe someone's reaction when they are shocked by something. Example: 'He shook his head in disbelief.'
Gold Rule
Noun vs. Verb
Remember that 'disbelief' is a noun. The verb form is 'disbelieve' (e.g., 'She disbelieved his excuse').
Word Origin
From Middle English *disbelief*, from dis- (prefix meaning 'not') + belief (from Old English *geleafa*, meaning 'faith' or 'trust').
Usage Notes
Disbelief is a noun that describes a state of mind rather than an action. It is commonly used in both spoken and written English, especially in storytelling and news reporting.