Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - nihilism

 noun  Etymology: German Nihilismus, from Latin nihil nothing — more at nil  Date: circa 1817  1.  a. a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless  b. a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths  2.  a. a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility  b. capitalized the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination  • nihilist noun or adjective  • nihilistic adjective