skepticism

Or scep·ti·cism

[skep-tuh-siz-uhm]

noun

1. skeptical attitude or temper; doubt.

   Synonyms: questioning

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

   Synonyms: agnosticism, atheism, disbelief
   Antonyms: faith

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

skepticism

1. 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.

Other Word Forms

• antiskepticism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of skepticism¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from New Latin scepticismus; equivalent to skeptic + -ism

Example Sentences

Still, there is some skepticism about whether the huge long-term infrastructure spending plans announced by firms such OpenAI will materialize as planned.

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Despite investor skepticism and flat stock performance, Rithm Capital maintains a strong dividend, with analysts forecasting solid earnings.

Read more on Barron's

The cornerstone of this strategy has been a very bullish conviction on precious metals, combined with a robust skepticism toward megacap tech stocks.

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While federal monitoring is routine, particularly in federal elections, it recently has been viewed with heightened skepticism from both parties.

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The unique power of the Great Renaissance, he argues, is drawn from its adaptation of the ancient philosophical school of skepticism, which rejected the idea that reason could access definitive truths.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apprehension 
• disbelief 
• distrust 
• hesitation 
• reluctance 
• suspicion 
• uncertainty