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Rationalism: alternatives and connections

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Rationalism

The doctrine or system of those who deduce their religious opinions from reason or the understanding, as distinct from, or opposed to, revelation.

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50 useful connections shown 9 reviewed relationships and 41 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Narrower term 1

Deism 76% connected

The doctrine or creed of a deist; the belief or system of those who acknowledge the existence of one God, but deny revelation.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

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Broader term 3

Doctrine 76% connected

Teaching; instruction.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Ism 76% connected

A doctrine or theory; especially, a wild or visionary theory.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Philosophy 76% connected

Literally, the love of, including the search after, wisdom; in actual usage, the knowledge of phenomena as explained by, and resolved into, causes an…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Derivationally related 4

Rationalist 74% connected

One who accepts rationalism as a theory or system; also, disparagingly, a false reasoner. See Citation under Reasonist.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

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Rationalist 74% connected

One who accepts rationalism as a theory or system; also, disparagingly, a false reasoner. See Citation under Reasonist.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Definition Compare both words

Synonym 1

Freethinking 92% connected

Undue boldness of speculation; unbelief.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Words from the same subject

These terms belong to the same specialist field or topic. They help you explore the subject, but they are not automatically synonyms.

Aesthetic noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) a philosophical theory as to what is beautiful; "he despised the esthetic of minimalism"

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Aristotelianism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the philosophy of Aristotle that deals with logic and metaphysics and ethics and poetics and politics and natural science…

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Determinism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) a philosophical theory holding that all events are inevitable consequences of antecedent sufficient causes; often underst…

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Empiricism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Esthetic noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) a philosophical theory as to what is beautiful; "he despised the esthetic of minimalism"

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Formalism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the philosophical theory that formal (logical or mathematical) statements have no meaning but that its symbols (regarded…

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Idealism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the philosophical theory that ideas are the only reality

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Intuitionism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge is acquired primarily by intuition

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Legal philosophy noun · 86% connection

the branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Materialism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the philosophical theory that matter is the only reality

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Mechanism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the philosophical theory that all phenomena can be explained in terms of physical or biological causes

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Nativism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the philosophical theory that some ideas are innate

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Naturalism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the doctrine that the world can be understood in scientific terms without recourse to spiritual or supernatural explanati…

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Nominalism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the doctrine that the various objects labeled by the same term have nothing in common but their name

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Peripateticism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the philosophy of Aristotle that deals with logic and metaphysics and ethics and poetics and politics and natural science…

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Platonism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that abstract concepts exist independent of their names

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Pragmatism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the doctrine that practical consequences are the criteria of knowledge and meaning and value

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Probabilism noun · 86% connection

(philosophy) the doctrine that (since certainty is unattainable) probability is a sufficient basis for belief and action

Used in the same subject area: Law, Philosophy, General philosophy, Legal theory.
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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

Apocalyptical adjective · 78% connection

Of or pertaining to a revelation, or, specifically, to the Revelation of St. John; containing, or of the nature of, a prophetic revela…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Babism noun · 78% connection

the doctrine and practice of a 19th century Iranian sect that affirmed the progressiveness of revelation, held that no revelation was…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
Definition Compare
Build verb · 78% connection

To rest or depend, as on a foundation; to ground one's self or one's hopes or opinions upon something deemed reliable; to rely; as, to…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Catastrophism noun · 78% connection

The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opp…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Catholicity noun · 78% connection

Adherence or conformity to the system of doctrine held by all parts of the orthodox Christian church; the doctrine so held; orthodoxy.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Cynicism noun · 78% connection

The doctrine of the Cynics; the quality of being cynical; the mental state, opinions, or conduct, of a cynic; morose and contemptuous…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Devout verb · 78% connection

Devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religiou…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Discernible adjective · 78% connection

Capable of being discerned by the eye or the understanding; as, a star is discernible by the eye; the identity of difference of ideas…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Elicit verb · 78% connection

To draw out or entice forth; to bring to light; to bring out against the will; to deduce by reason or argument; as, to elicit truth by…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Enthusiast noun · 78% connection

One moved or actuated by enthusiasm; as: (a) One who imagines himself divinely inspired, or possessed of some special revelation; a re…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Extremist adjective · 78% connection

(used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm; "extremist political views"; "radical opinions on education"; "an ultra conservati…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Faith noun · 78% connection

That which is believed on any subject, whether in science, politics, or religion; especially (Theol.), a system of religious belief of…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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Fool noun · 78% connection

One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: doctrine, system, deduce, religious, opinions.
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