skeptic

Or scep·tic

[skep-tik]

noun

1. a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.

2. a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.

3. a person who doubts the truth of a religion, especially Christianity, or of important elements of it.

   Synonyms: doubter
   Antonyms: believer

4. (initial capital letter)

   1. a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.

   2. any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.

adjective

1. pertaining to skeptics or skepticism; skeptical.

2. (initial capital letter),  pertaining to the Skeptics.

skeptic

/ ˈskɛptɪk /

noun

1. an archaic, and the usual US, spelling of sceptic

Other Word Forms

• antiskeptic noun
• nonskeptic adjective
• skepticism noun
• skepticalness noun
• skeptical adjective
• skeptically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of skeptic¹

1565–75; < Late Latin scepticus thoughtful, inquiring (in plural Scepticī the Skeptics) < Greek skeptikós, equivalent to sképt ( esthai ) to consider, examine (akin to skopeîn to look; -scope ) + -ikos -ic

Synonym Study

See agnostic.

Example Sentences

Additionally, skeptics of the bishops’ political messaging contend that the Church should prioritize spiritual matters over political positions and allow secular authorities to determine immigration policy without ecclesiastical interference.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But AI skeptics, it seems, are also opportunistic traders, and this was a chance to buy on the dip.

Read more on Barron's

Still, because CD388 offers influenza prevention without being a vaccine, analysts noted Friday that it could be attractive to vaccine skeptics.

Read more on Barron's

Even as skeptics have raised concerns about potential risks to consumers posed by more widespread adoption of stablecoins, Allaire has tried to allay regulators’ worries and integrate the product into mainstream finance.

Read more on MarketWatch

The same Household Finance that had pushed Steve Eisman over the narrow border between Wall Street skeptic and Wall Street cynic.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• agnostic 
• cynic 
• dissenter 
• doubter www.thesaurus.com
• pessimist 
• questioner www.thesaurus.com