---
title: nihilism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «nihilism» in the school dictionary: The belief that nothing really matters or has meaning, and that life has no purpose. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# nihilism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** nothing, belief, Nihilism, life, villain, kindness · **What happens:** matter, have, reject, destroy, be, show · **To what, where:** belief, meaning, purpose, idea, nihilism, philosophy club · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«nihilism» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [nihilism in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nihilism.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The belief that nothing really matters or has meaning, and that life has no purpose.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nihilism:m1:1
# text = The belief that nothing really matters or has meaning, and that life has no purpose.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	6	nsubj	_	_
5	really	really	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	matters	matter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	16	det	_	_
16	purpose	purpose	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **matter** | present | nothing | the belief *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | nothing *not said here* | meaning |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meaning=Patient |
| 3 | **have** | present | the belief | no purpose |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent purpose=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal, history — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The idea that all rules, laws and traditions should be rejected or destroyed.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nihilism:m2:1
# text = The idea that all rules, laws and traditions should be rejected or destroyed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	traditions	tradition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
10	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	rejected	reject	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	destroyed	destroy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reject** | should · passive |  | the idea |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **destroy** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nihilism is the idea that life has no meaning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nihilism:x1:1
# text = Nihilism is the idea that life has no meaning.
1	Nihilism	nihilism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Nihilism | the idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | life | no meaning |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meaning=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The villain in the story shows nihilism: he thinks nothing matters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nihilism:x2:1
# text = The villain in the story shows nihilism: he thinks nothing matters.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	villain	villain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	nihilism	nihilism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	thinks	think	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	12	nsubj	_	_
12	matters	matter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the villain in the story | nihilism |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent nihilism=Recipient |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | present | villain |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **matter** | present | nothing |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our philosophy club talked about nihilism and whether kindness matters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nihilism:x3:1
# text = Our philosophy club talked about nihilism and whether kindness matters.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	philosophy	philosophy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	talked	talk	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	nihilism	nihilism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	matters	matter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | participle |  | Our philosophy club *not said here* |  |  |  | about nihilism | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about nihilism=Topic |
| 2 | **matter** | present | kindness |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe life has meaning because God made people, so they disagree with nihilism.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nihilism:x4:1
# text = Christians believe life has meaning because God made people, so they disagree with nihilism.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	nihilism	nihilism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **have** | present | life | meaning |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meaning=Patient |
| 3 | **make** | past | God | people |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Product |
| 4 | **disagree** | present | Christians *= christian* |  |  |  |  | with nihilism | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V PP.co-agent PP.theme whether S»: agent=Agent with nihilism=Co-Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some teenagers joke about nihilism when they are bored.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nihilism:x5:1
# text = Some teenagers joke about nihilism when they are bored.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	teenagers	teenager	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	joke	joke	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	nihilism	nihilism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	bored	bored	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **joke** *speech: other* | present | some teenagers |  |  |  |  | about nihilism | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about nihilism=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | teenagers *= teenager* |  |  |  |  | bored *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The writer Nietzsche wrote a lot about nihilism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:nihilism:x6:1
# text = The writer Nietzsche wrote a lot about nihilism.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	Nietzsche	Nietzsche	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
4	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	nihilism	nihilism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | the writer | a lot |  |  |  | about nihilism | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent lot=Recipient about nihilism=Topic |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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