skeptical

Or scep·ti·cal

[skep-ti-kuhl]

adjective

1. inclined to skepticism; having an attitude of doubt.

   a skeptical young woman who will question whatever you say.

   Synonyms: skeptic

2. doubtful about a particular thing.

   My teacher thinks I can get a scholarship, but I'm skeptical.

3. showing doubt.

   a skeptical smile.

4. denying or questioning the tenets of a religion.

   a skeptical approach to the nature of miracles.

   Synonyms: unbelieving

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

Other Word Forms

• skeptically adverb
• skepticalness noun
• antiskeptical adjective
• nonskeptical adjective
• overskeptical adjective
• overskeptically adverb
• overskepticalness noun
• unskeptical adjective
• unskeptically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of skeptical¹

First recorded in 1630–40; skeptic + -al ¹

Synonym Study

See doubtful.

Example Sentences

Any senior community worth its salt should welcome you to check it out often; be skeptical of any place that limits visits.

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That figure made him skeptical of how the companies’ margins could be so high.

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Goodwill also has to win over skeptical landlords who still might think of Goodwill as drab stores that attract primarily lower-income customers.

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But the research also countered the pessimism of Acemoglu, who is skeptical about AI’s ability to make workers more productive.

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Analysts at Wolfe Research also have been sounding skeptical over whether the $2,000 checks will become a reality.

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Related Words

• doubtful 
• dubious 
• incredulous 
• mistrustful 
• suspicious 
• unconvinced