skeptical
or scep·ti·cal
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.
Origin of skeptical
1synonym study For skeptical
Other words for skeptical
Other words from skeptical
- skep·ti·cal·ly, adverb
- skep·ti·cal·ness, noun
- an·ti·skep·ti·cal, adjective
- non·skep·ti·cal, adjective
- o·ver·skep·ti·cal, adjective
- o·ver·skep·ti·cal·ly, adverb
- o·ver·skep·ti·cal·ness, noun
- un·skep·ti·cal, adjective
- un·skep·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use skeptical in a sentence
Much of the health care industry will be listening on Tuesday to see if the Justices seem skeptical of those arguments.
What to know about the Supreme Court’s case on the constitutionality of Obamacare | Geoffrey Colvin | November 10, 2020 | FortuneOur advice is to remain skeptical of claims about the election that haven’t been confirmed by reliable sources and to think before liking, retweeting or sharing.
Five election misinformation campaigns to avoid resharing | By Starbird, West, & DiResta/The Conversation | November 6, 2020 | Popular-ScienceRove tried to convince Bush he’d won, but Bush was skeptical.
The night the Supreme Court settled a presidential election, declaring George W. Bush the winner | Michael Rosenwald | November 6, 2020 | Washington PostVoters there, especially senior citizens, are wary of rising crime and skeptical of Lazere’s defund-the-police approach, she said.
How Christina Henderson won a D.C. Council seat: Outreach to women, moderate police views and a positive campaign | Julie Zauzmer, Fenit Nirappil | November 4, 2020 | Washington PostWith less than a day before the election, she was skeptical about the ballots getting counted properly due to the increased potential for technological glitches in her area as result of the hurricane.
Wonder cranes around, skeptically: Their image is part of their brand, he says.
In the Backseat With Janelle Monae: A Limo Ride with the Stylish R&B Diva | Douglas Wolk | April 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat means that the results should be viewed skeptically, he said.
Twenty Years of Alzheimer’s Research May Have Focused on the Wrong Protein | Elizabeth Lopatto | April 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe, too, are exiting our own emotional bunkers after eight days of war, tentatively, cautiously, skeptically.
"A few individuals might believe in that," he added skeptically.
The bottom line is that when you hear descriptions like these, treat them skeptically: Most are nonsense.
Why Do We Keep Telling The Same False Stories About School Shooters? | Dave Cullen | March 3, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTFoolish fellow, retorted Sanders, skeptically; women imagine, they dont reason.
The Fifth String | John Philip SousaThe big painter sat with his long legs sprawling in front of him, a black pipe in his mouth, and looked at Larry skeptically.
Children of the Whirlwind | Leroy Scott“‘Throw’ is right,” Laura said skeptically, but Billie was already racing off again in the direction of the cottage.
Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island | Janet D. WheelerBut She smiled skeptically, went out of the room and came back armed with the whip.
Barks and Purrs | Colette Willy, aka ColetteI exclaimed, skeptically, "what would anybody do with houses up on a place like that and who would live in them?"
The Frontier Boys in the Grand Canyon | Wyn Roosevelt
Browse