Words used to describe thoughts, beliefs and ideas

abstract (adjective)

abstract ideas exist as thoughts in the mind, and are not related to physical objects or real events and actions

central (adjective)

a central idea, aspect, system etc is one of the main ones that is used or needed

theoretical (adjective)

based on theories or ideas instead of on practical experience

popular (adjective)

a popular belief, feeling, attitude etc is one that many people have

orthodox (adjective)

accepted by most people as the correct or usual idea or practice

conceptual (adjective)

relating to ideas and principles

metaphysical (adjective)

relating to ideas about life, existence, and other things that are not part of the physical world

utopian (adjective)

utopian principles or beliefs are based on the idea that life can be perfect. This is often used for saying that something is not practical or sensible

nonconformist (adjective)

different from the way that most people usually think or behave

revisionist (adjective)

revisionist ideas are different from the ideas that a group has officially or traditionally accepted. This word often shows that you think the new ideas are wrong

absolutist (adjective)

believing that one rule or principle is more important than any other and must never be broken

ahistorical (adjective)

formal failing to consider history properly when thinking or talking about something

anthropocentric (adjective)

considering that people are more important than anything else in the world

at/in the back of your mind ()

if something is at the back of your mind, you are thinking about it or it is affecting how you behave, perhaps without your realizing it

at the back of your mind ()

not thinking about something now, but knowing that it exists or is true

be bound up in/with something ()

ideas, feelings, or issues that are bound up with each other are connected very closely, so that it is difficult to think of them separately

black-and-white (adjective)

involving one idea that is clearly right and another that is clearly wrong, so that it is not difficult for you to make a moral decision

blind (adjective)

a blind emotion or belief is so strong that you do not question it in any way, even if it is unreasonable

circular (adjective)

a circular argument or theory does not mean anything because it consists of a series of causes and effects that lead you back to the original cause

compatible (adjective)

ideas or systems that are compatible can exist together

competing (adjective)

competing arguments, claims, theories etc cannot all be true or cannot all be dealt with in an equal way

Confucian (adjective)

relating to or based on the moral theories and principles of Confucius

contagious (adjective)

a contagious feeling or idea spreads quickly from one person or place to another

contradictory (adjective)

contradictory statements, information, ideas, or beliefs disagree with each other and cannot both or all be true

critical (adjective)

according to people whose job is to give their opinion of things such as new books, plays, or films

critically (adverb)

by people whose job is to give their opinion of things such as new books, plays, or films

current (adjective)

believed or practised by many people at the present time

deep (adjective)

something that is deep involves very serious thoughts, ideas, or feelings

deep-rooted (adjective)

a deep-rooted feeling, belief, idea etc is strong and you have had it for so long that it is difficult to change

defensible (adjective)

a defensible belief or idea is one that you can support well against criticism

deterministic (adjective)

formal using or believing in the idea that everything is caused by another event or action and so you are not free to choose what you do

discretionary (adjective)

based on someone’s judgment of a particular situation rather than on a set of rules

doctrinal (adjective)

relating to a doctrine

elegant (adjective)

an elegant theory or solution is impressive because it is simple and effective

experiential (adjective)

very formal relating to or based on experience

fiendish (adjective)

a fiendish plan or idea is very clever but cruel

fixed (adjective)

a fixed idea or opinion does not change although it may be wrong

half-baked (adjective)

informal a half-baked idea or plan is not practical because it has not been thought about carefully

holistic (adjective)

thinking about the whole of something, and not just dealing with particular aspects

ideological (adjective)

based on, or relating to, an ideology

inductive (adjective)

formal reasoning from particular facts or ideas to a general rule or law

ingrained (adjective)

an ingrained attitude, belief, or habit has existed for a long time and cannot easily be changed

inmost (adjective)

literary innermost

innermost (adjective)

your innermost thoughts and feelings are the ones that are most personal and private

in someone’s thoughts ()

if someone is in your thoughts, you think about them a lot. This expression is often used for telling someone who is unhappy that you are thinking about them

in the abstract ()

thinking about something only as a general idea without referring to real situations or practical experience

in the belief that ()

because you think that something is true

in the round (British)

British looking at all aspects of an issue

introspective (adjective)

tending to examine your own feelings, thoughts, or ideas rather than communicating with other people

literal (adjective)

understanding words or ideas only in a basic and obvious way, and not their hidden or more unusual meanings

loud (adjective)

used about the opinion itself