disbelieve

Etymology

Coined circa 1640, from dis- + believe. Compare misbelieve.

verb

1. To not believe; to exercise disbelief.
   If you disbelieve such people, then keep disbelieving them for as long as you live or want.
2. To actively deny (a statement, opinion or perception).
   He chose to disbelieve the bad news as inconceivable.
3. To cease to believe.
   And so far as this opinion prevails, we have reason to fear that the important doctrine, of the real Divinity and even of the humanity of Christ, will be gradually disbelieved. 1802, The Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, and Religious ...
   Elfrida walked slowly upstairs, reviewing what had happened and not happened in the last three, not to say six weeks, and gradually disbelieving the good case that she had made out. 1890, Edward Henage Dering, Freville Chase, volume 1, page 37
   He never "revolted" against Christianity; only, reluctantly and gradually, disbelieved it. 1923, David Alec Wilson, Life of Carlyle, volume 1, page 79
   From the moment he said "I love you" she slowly disbelieved everything he said. 1986, Dermot Healy, Fighting with Shadows, page 136
   Cook's claim was gradually disbelieved, and Cook fell into disfavor and died a pauper in 1940. 2007, Robert F. Gorman, Great Events from History: The 20th century, 1901-1940