skepticism

or scep·ti·cism

[skep-tuh-siz-uhm]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR skepticism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

skeptical attitude or temper; doubt.

doubt or unbelief with regard to a religion, especially Christianity.

(initial capital letter) the doctrines or opinions of philosophical Skeptics; universal doubt.

Nearby words

Origin of skepticism

1640–50; < New Latin scepticismus, equivalent to Latin sceptic(us) skeptic + -ismus -ism

Related formsan·ti·skep·ti·cism, noun

Synonyms for skepticism

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR skepticism ON THESAURUS.COM

1. questioning, probing, testing. 2. disbelief, atheism, agnosticism.

Antonyms for skepticism

2. faith.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for skepticism

In Romneyland, the super PAC is being met with real suspicion and skepticism.
‘Ready for Romney’ Is Amateur Hour|Tim Mak|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It appears that even the president sensed his announcement would be greeted with skepticism.
SWAT Lobby Shoots to Kill Police Reform After Ferguson|Tim Mak|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
House and Senate skepticism of the program is at its highest point ever.
U.S. Hasn’t Even Started Training Rebel Army to Fight ISIS|Tim Mak|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Vieira realizes this mission makes him the butt of an endless onslaught of skepticism and criticism.
Hunting for a Real-Life Hagrid|Nina Strochlic|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They are told that this event is important, and they may, momentarily, set aside their skepticism.
The Real Housewives of Miss America|Kate Shindle|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Teachers of singing at present evince an attitude of skepticism toward new theories of the vocal action.
The Psychology of Singing|David C. Taylor
Perhaps your skepticism will find something to try its teeth on.
The Gilded Man|Clifford Smyth
Just here let me say that a great deal of skepticism prevails among people in general and farmers in particular.
Natural and Artificial Duck Culture|James Rankin
Rationalism is the most recent, but not the least violent and insidious, of all the developments of skepticism.
History of Rationalism Embracing a Survey of the Present State of Protestant Theology|John F. Hurst
In other quarters the predominant tendencies were towards unbelief, skepticism, or indifference.
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 16|Various

Word Origin and History for skepticism

also scepticism, 1640s, from skeptic + -ism. Specifically regarding Christian religion, from 1800.

Culture definitions for skepticism

skepticism

In philosophy, the position that what cannot be proved by reason should not be believed. One of the main tasks of epistemology is to find an answer to the charge of some extreme skeptics that no knowledge is possible.