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.
Synonym Usage
See doubtful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of skeptical
Explanation
If a friend told you that her family was perfect and they never had any problems, would you believe her? If not, you may be skeptical. Skeptical people look at the world with a certain amount of doubt. This word comes from ancient Greece, where a philosopher named Pyrrho taught his followers that we can never really understand the true nature of things, only how they appear to us. (So basically, we should stop searching for the meaning of life and just relax.) In Pyrrho's view, the true sage was someone who realized that it was impossible to be certain about anything. His followers were called Skeptikoi, or Skeptics; the Greek word skeptikos means “given to asking questions.”
Vocabulary lists containing skeptical
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 1
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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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.
Technically, Shiller has data on stock-market returns and inflation going back to the 1870s, but there are reasons to be skeptical about the value — or even the reliability — of such ancient financial history.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
Citi thinks Wall Street is too skeptical on Skydance, saying cost cuts can still lift the stock in the short term.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
To them, it feels like yes-men have been replaced by skeptical employees who are more likely to shred them on Reddit or Glassdoor than to brown-nose.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Soon, Klara comes home with Josie, getting her bearings in the world outside the store and trying to prove to the skeptical Chrissy that she can be a valuable addition to the household.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
“No, Harry, I am speaking the truth,” he added, as Harry pulled a skeptical expression.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
