incredulous

[ in-krej-uh-luhs ]

/ ɪnˈkrɛdʒ ə ləs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incredulous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not credulous; disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical.

indicating or showing unbelief: an incredulous smile.

Nearby words

increasing, increasingly, increate, incredible, incredulity, incredulous, increment, incremental, incremental plotter, incremental recorder, incremental repetition

Origin of incredulous

From the Latin word incrēdulus, dating back to 1525–35. See in-³, credulous

SYNONYMS FOR incredulous

unbelieving.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incredulous ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsin·cred·u·lous·ly, adverbin·cred·u·lous·ness, noun

Can be confusedincredible incredulous

Synonym study

See doubtful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incredulous

I tried this twice and both drivers gave me an incredulous look before driving off.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the time, critics were incredulous that the show would work.
People Prefer ‘The Bachelor’ to ‘The Bachelorette.’ Why? It’s Science.|Brandy Zadrozny|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Wednesday, Republican Senator John McCain was incredulous about this decision.
U.S. Waited Months to Send Ukraine Spare Tires|Eli Lake|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For the judge who is incredulous, Martin again offers two simple words: “Excuuuuuse me!”
Change the Constitution in Six Easy Steps? It Won’t Be That Simple, Justice Stevens|Richard L. Hasen|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

If their incredulous looks were anything to go by, it fell largely on deaf ears.
Oscar Pistorius’s Sobbing Fit On The Witness Stand|Kelly Berold|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Flavia stood still, looking at the other girl with slow-gathering, incredulous resentment and wonder.
From the Car Behind|Eleanor M. Ingram
"You hurt me—I believe you wanted to hurt me," he muttered in a tone of pained and incredulous surprise.
The Builders|Ellen Glasgow
I gazed at him in bewilderment; ready to laugh if he meant to be jocular, incredulous of his serious intention.
The Abandoned Farmer|Sydney Herman Preston
“Then there was no use in your coming,” said the colonel, casting an incredulous glance at the captain's stout figure.
Sevastopol|Lyof N. Tolsto
Slyme laughed in a sneering, incredulous way, but Sawkins was inclined to be abusive.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists|Robert Tressell

British Dictionary definitions for incredulous

incredulous

/ (ɪnˈkrɛdjʊləs) /

adjective

(often foll by of) not prepared or willing to believe (something); unbelieving

Derived Formsincredulously, adverbincredulousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for incredulous

incredulous

adj.

"unbelieving," 1570s, from Latin incredulus "unbelieving, incredulous," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + credulus (see credulous). Formerly also of religious beliefs. Related: Incredulously; incredulousness.

incredulous

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of incredulous

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for incredulous

British Dictionary definitions for incredulous

incredulous

adjective

Word Origin and History for incredulous

incredulous