skepticism
Americannoun
-
skepticisms
plural
-
skeptical attitude or temper; doubt.
- Synonyms:
- questioning
-
doubt or unbelief with regard to a religion, especially Christianity.
- Synonyms:
- agnosticism, atheism, disbelief
- Antonyms:
- faith
-
(initial capital letter) the doctrines or opinions of philosophical Skeptics; universal doubt.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of skepticism
First recorded in 1640–50; from New Latin scepticismus; equivalent to skeptic + -ism
Explanation
Skepticism is doubt about something — you're just not convinced or can't totally believe it. If your brother is only four feet tall, you should view his claims that he can slam dunk a basketball with a lot of skepticism. If you like to poke holes in other people's ideas, then you are full of skepticism. Some people follow a specific belief system that questions the truth of anything, but most people save their skepticism for certain things. Tabloids, Big Foot sightings, and over-eager used car salesmen should all be viewed with a little skepticism. On the other hand, gullible folks believe everything they hear and don't have much, if any, skepticism.
Vocabulary lists containing skepticism
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Power Suffix: -ism
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Outliers
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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.
See Examples For:
The other reason for some skepticism is that Moderna and Merck haven’t yet released any specifics about how the vaccine performed.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
At 5 feet 9 and 180 pounds, the Gardena Serra High cornerback is used to the skepticism because of his size.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
So far, Israel has treated Mr. al-Sharaa with skepticism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Some analysts initially expressed skepticism that PayPal would strike a deal with Stripe, with one at William Blair calling the $60.50 bid a “lowball offer” and questioning its industrial logic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Bobby showed up at CBS’s Television Studio 52, garbed in his characteristic corduroy pants and flannel shirt buttoned at the collar and displaying an attitude that was one part assurance and one part skepticism.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Most childhood memoirs depict the author as an adult in child’s clothing, possessing preternaturally sophisticated observations and skepticisms.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 14, 2023
“The reasons for skepticisms are very valid,” Nath says.
From Science Magazine ● Sep. 30, 2015
Alas, he is better at explaining doubts and skepticisms and moral relativism than at charting a path out of such dilemmas.
From Time Magazine Archive
Notwithstanding his skepticisms, however, he ordered out the car and he and Walter sped away on their errand.
From Walter and the Wireless by William F. (William Frederick) Stecher
The new statement will comprise the skepticisms as well as the faiths of society, and out of unbeliefs a creed shall be formed.
From Essays — Second Series by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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.
