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.
Related Words
See doubtful.
Other Word Forms
- antiskeptical adjective
- nonskeptical adjective
- overskeptical adjective
- overskeptically adverb
- overskepticalness noun
- skeptically adverb
- skepticalness noun
- unskeptical adjective
- unskeptically adverb
Etymology
Origin of skeptical
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.
And though he’s skeptical of a doomsday scenario, Mayfield is hesitant to believe the new wave of AI anxiety will disappear soon.
And two Americans: Kenyon, a wry, observant, skeptical humanist sculptor, perhaps a stand-in for Hawthorne himself; and Hilda, a New England Puritan painter—self-possessed, pious, unswervingly loyal, pure as a flight of doves.
The figures are intended to reassure more skeptical investors who have questioned OpenAI's ability to secure revenue, with user growth for its flagship ChatGPT slowing.
From Barron's
But analysts are skeptical China is at risk of higher tariffs in the near term.
From Barron's
A skeptical attorney sat on the bed while Mrs. Fox asked the spirit questions.
From Literature
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.
