doubting Thomas

American  

noun

1. a person who refuses to believe without proof; skeptic: in reference to the apostle Thomas.

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doubting Thomas British  

noun

1. a person who insists on proof before he will believe anything; sceptic

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doubting Thomas Idioms  

1. One who is habitually doubtful. For example, He was a doubting Thomas about the coming merger, not believing it would ever happen. The term alludes to the disciple Thomas, who doubted Jesus's resurrection until he had first-hand evidence of it (John 20:24–29).

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Etymology

Origin of doubting Thomas

after _Thomas (the apostle), who did not believe that Jesus had been resurrected until he had proof

Example Sentences

His contemporaries may have been interested in the biblical lesson of the doubting Thomas, but we are attracted to Thomas’s uncertainty, which we read, in some way, as the painter’s own.

From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2020

If you’re still a doubting Thomas, check out your children’s school policy on community service and see if it pushes them toward giving back.

From Washington Times • Dec. 31, 2018

What global landmark would doubting Thomas drink from?

From Washington Post • Aug. 4, 2016

Five hundred years of complaints against the onslaught of the trawl meant nothing to our doubting Thomas.

From Scientific American • May 24, 2013

“Aha,” he said, “then it is up to Santini to prove to his doubting Thomas family that he is the tops when it comes to choosing a house for his family.”

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy