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

“It appears that the Jewish community is growing even more skeptical and critical of deploying antisemitism as the rationale” for federal funding cuts to universities, Fuller said.

From Los Angeles Times

And Hull today is skeptical of the word “immersive.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I started in a very skeptical place,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

With the decline of the space program, biology had emerged as the preeminent science, and Congress was becoming skeptical about how millions of dollars in federal research grants were being spent.

From Los Angeles Times

But the survivors and their supporters were skeptical, and it’s no wonder.

From Salon

Related Words

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