skeptical

or scep·ti·cal

[ skep-ti-kuhl ]

/ ˈskɛp tɪ kəl /

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See synonyms for: skeptical / skeptically on Thesaurus.com

adjective

inclined to skepticism; having an attitude of doubt: a skeptical young woman who will question whatever you say.

doubtful about a particular thing: My teacher thinks I can get a scholarship, but I'm skeptical.

showing doubt: a skeptical smile.

denying or questioning the tenets of a religion: a skeptical approach to the nature of miracles.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to Skeptics or Skepticism.

OTHER WORDS FOR skeptical

1 skeptic.

4 unbelieving.

See synonyms for skeptical on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of skeptical

First recorded in 1630–40; skeptic + -al¹

synonym study for skeptical

1. See doubtful.

OTHER WORDS FROM skeptical

skep·ti·cal·ly, adverbskep·ti·cal·ness, nounan·ti·skep·ti·cal, adjectivenon·skep·ti·cal, adjective

o·ver·skep·ti·cal, adjectiveo·ver·skep·ti·cal·ly, adverbo·ver·skep·ti·cal·ness, nounun·skep·ti·cal, adjectiveun·skep·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby skeptical

skene, skene dhu, skep, skepful, skeptic, skeptical, skepticism, skerrick, skerry, sket, sketch

How to use skeptical in a sentence

Outsiders were skeptical, unsure how the dance would translate to a competitive format and how it would engage spectators.
How break dancing made the leap from ’80s pop culture to the Olympic stage|Rick Maese|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
I think that I was skeptical about Liz at first, because I had not heard of her.
'We All Have to Create Our Own Universe.' Producer and Artist Zackary Drucker on Telling Nuanced Trans Stories|Suyin Haynes|February 8, 2021|Time
I’m skeptical I could do this without exploding the egg everywhere but, hey, you never know.
How to separate eggs without the stress or mess|Becky Krystal|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
If you’re still skeptical, we’ve outlined a few health benefits to your new favorite green drink.
The Benefits Of Drinking Celery Juice|Charli Penn|February 2, 2021|Essence.com

Not any thicker than normal unlined denim, I was skeptical that these pants would provide the additional warmth I was looking for.
The Best Fleece-Lined Pants for the Outdoors|Wes Siler|January 15, 2021|Outside Online
As Ackerman pointed out, all scientists are skeptics; skeptical doubt is a part of the scientific method.
Extreme Weather? Blame the End Times|Jay Michaelson|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I have to admit, I was skeptical about True Detective from the start.
Alright ‘True Detective,’ You Got Me: Taylor Kitsch Is a Woman’s Man|Teo Bugbee|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps we should have been a little more skeptical about this story.
Brace Yourself: October Election Surprises Surely on the Way|Matt Lewis|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For days the Kurds have insisted to skeptical journalists, including myself, that Kobani would hold.
In the Battle for Kobani, ISIS Falls Back. But for How Long?|Jamie Dettmer|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Postol and Lloyd were skeptical; hexamine is a common precursor chemical for military-grade explosives.
The Kardashian Look-Alike Trolling for Assad|Noah Shachtman, Michael Kennedy|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The other chambers, having fireplaces, I decided needed no further heat, though the plumber was mournfully skeptical.
The Idyl of Twin Fires|Walter Prichard Eaton
I have always been skeptical about such things as "soul," but when I look into the mirror—God help me!
The Diary of Philip Westerly|Paul Compton
Felipe can establish his relationship beyond the doubt of the most skeptical.
Frank Merriwell's Pursuit|Burt L. Standish
He was skeptical about Jim, but he was struck with the accuracy of the portrait of Edwards.
The Calico Cat|Charles Miner Thompson
Odin had grown skeptical of such thinking when he was a medical student.
Hunters Out of Space|Joseph Everidge Kelleam