skeptical
Americanadjective
-
inclined to skepticism; having an attitude of doubt.
a skeptical young woman who will question whatever you say.
- Synonyms:
- skeptic
-
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.
- Synonyms:
- unbelieving
-
(initial capital letter) of or relating to Skeptics or Skepticism.
Related Words
See doubtful.
Other Word Forms
- antiskeptical adjective
- nonskeptical adjective
- overskeptical adjective
- overskeptically adverb
- overskepticalness noun
- skeptically adverb
- skepticalness noun
- unskeptical adjective
- unskeptically adverb
Etymology
Origin of skeptical
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But even some off-site construction proponents are skeptical.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
Demographers are skeptical that subsidies can move the needle much against forces like high education costs, job insecurity, delayed marriage, and shifting gender norms.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
When I relayed the live-blood-analysis process to Turner, the UC–Irvine professor, he was skeptical.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
Investors skeptical of Oracle’s prospects have pointed to the company’s aggressive spending as it builds out data centers for its infrastructure deals.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026
He hadn’t ruled out prophecies entirely, but he was skeptical about anything Sandwich came up with.
From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
