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Glite Dictionary
doublethink

doublethink

1 9.9
The act of accepting two opposite ideas at the same time and believing both are true
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌbəlˌθɪŋk/
  • Literature
: doble pensamiento
  • Examples of doublethink are war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength.

But it's a sign of the doublethink that plagues so many accounts of this topic.

Examples

  • Piaget's vivid memory of an event that hadn't occurred is reminiscent of Winston Smith's "doublethink" in George Orwell's novel 1984.

    Academic text (2011)

  • The concept of doublethink is illustrated by believing that war can bring peace.

  • Even in using the word DOUBLETHINK, it is necessary to exercise DOUBLETHINK.

    Blog text (14)

  • Did you catch the double message, indeed a case of Doublethink?

    Blog text (1)

  • But it's a sign of the doublethink that plagues so many accounts of this topic.

    ReasonTV

  • Democratic supporters are becoming masters at doublethink and denial.

    Blog text (24)

  • Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously and accepting both of them.

    Blog text (14)

  • Doublethink is basically the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously and accepting both of them.

    Blog text (32)

  • Many people engage in doublethink by accepting contradictory beliefs about freedom and control.

  • In discussions about politics, doublethink often allows individuals to justify conflicting opinions.

Antonyms

clear-thinking
7 4.2

Able to think calmly and logically without confusion or distraction

consistency
4 3.8

The state of having no conflicts between ideas or rules

How Contradictory

doublethink
  • Literature
1 9.9
contradiction
138 4.3
dissonance
23 7.8
inconsistency
74 4.8

Surface Forms

doublethink singular
doublethinks plural

Morphology

doublethink = double + think (semi-transparent) = double + think

The components 'double' and 'think' are clear, but the specific Orwellian sense of holding contradictory beliefs is a coined, ideological usage not fully predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Doublethink was invented by writer George Orwell for his book 1984 and joins double ('two') and think ('to think'). It describes the strange act of accepting two opposite beliefs at once, which explains why we use it for holding conflicting ideas as true.