UNBELIEVING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does unbelieving mean? 

• UNBELIEVING (adjective)
  The adjective UNBELIEVING has 3 senses:

1. rejecting any belief in gods

2. holding that only material phenomena can be known and knowledge of spiritual matters or ultimate causes is impossible

3. denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion

  Familiarity information: UNBELIEVING used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNBELIEVING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rejecting any belief in gods

Synonyms:

atheistic; atheistical; unbelieving

Similar:

irreligious (hostile or indifferent to religion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Holding that only material phenomena can be known and knowledge of spiritual matters or ultimate causes is impossible

Synonyms:

nescient; unbelieving

Similar:

agnostic; agnostical (uncertain of all claims to knowledge)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion

Synonyms:

disbelieving; sceptical; skeptical; unbelieving

Context example:

a skeptical approach to the nature of miracles

Similar:

incredulous (not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving)

 Context examples 

The word 'Mother' suggested other maternal counsels given long ago, and received with unbelieving protests.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

But, was slowly, distinctly read, the fearful, the unbelieving, &c., shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mrs. Thorpe, however, had one great advantage as a talker, over Mrs. Allen, in a family of children; and when she expatiated on the talents of her sons, and the beauty of her daughters, when she related their different situations and views—that John was at Oxford, Edward at Merchant Taylors', and William at sea—and all of them more beloved and respected in their different station than any other three beings ever were, Mrs. Allen had no similar information to give, no similar triumphs to press on the unwilling and unbelieving ear of her friend, and was forced to sit and appear to listen to all these maternal effusions, consoling herself, however, with the discovery, which her keen eye soon made, that the lace on Mrs. Thorpe's pelisse was not half so handsome as that on her own.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)