Skeptical — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈskep-ti-kəl/ skep·ti·cal

Meaning & Definition of Skeptical

Skeptical (adjective)

  1. relating to, characteristic of, or marked by skepticism

Skeptical (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. inclined to doubt or question claims

    "it's good to be skeptical about what you see on TV"

    similar: disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving
    related: paranoid, critical, puzzled, quizzical, careful, cautious, guarded, gun-shy, leery, wary, watchful, cynical, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise, curious, inquiring, inquisitive, nosy, snoopy, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, undetermined, unsettled, unsure, hesitant
    opposite: credulous, gullible, trustful, trusting, uncritical, unquestioning
    near: green, ingenuous, innocent, naive, simple, simpleminded, unknowing, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed, certain, confident, positive, sure, callow, inexperienced, raw, childlike, idealistic, impractical, beguiled, deceived, duped, gulled, tricked, careless, heedless, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary

  2. not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something

    "I'm a little skeptical of this low bid, since it's way below what the other contractors said that they would charge"

    similar: distrustful, doubtful, dubious, hinky (slang), mistrustful, suspicious, trustless, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure, on the fence
    related: ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal, diffident, insecure, halting, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, vacillating, wavering
    opposite: certain, convinced, positive, sure
    near: assured, confident, sanguine, self-assured, decisive, determined, resolute

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Skeptical

The most common words with a similar meaning to Skeptical:

Slang: hinky
disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving, doubtful, dubious, trustless, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure, on the fence

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Skeptical

Words with the opposite meaning of Skeptical:

credulous, gullible, trustful, trusting, uncritical, unquestioning, certain, convinced, positive, sure

Related Words for Skeptical

paranoid, critical, puzzled, quizzical, careful, cautious, guarded, gun-shy, leery, wary, watchful, cynical, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise, curious, inquiring, inquisitive, nosy, snoopy, undetermined, hesitant, ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal, diffident, insecure, halting

Near Antonyms of Skeptical

green, ingenuous, innocent, naive, simple, simpleminded, unknowing, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed, confident, callow, inexperienced, raw, childlike, idealistic, impractical, beguiled, deceived, duped, gulled, tricked, careless, heedless, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary, assured, sanguine, self-assured

Word Forms of Skeptical

Derived words: skeptically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Skeptical

First known use: 1639

Frequently Asked Questions about Skeptical

What does "Skeptical" mean?

"Skeptical" means relating to, characteristic of, or marked by skepticism. As an adjective, it is defined as: relating to, characteristic of, or marked by skepticism. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Skeptical"?

Other words for "Skeptical" include disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning and show-me. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Skeptical" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Skeptical"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Skeptical". Common alternatives include disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, suspecting and suspicious.

What is the opposite of "Skeptical"?

Antonyms of "Skeptical" include credulous, gullible, trustful, trusting, uncritical, unquestioning, certain and convinced. Near antonyms include green, ingenuous, innocent and naive.

How do you use "Skeptical" in a sentence?

Examples of "Skeptical" in a sentence: "it's good to be skeptical about what you see on TV"; "I'm a little skeptical of this low bid, since it's way below what the other contractors said that they would charge".

Is "Skeptical" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Skeptical" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Skeptical"?

"Skeptical" is pronounced /ˈskep-ti-kəl/ and divided into syllables as skep·ti·cal.

What is the origin of the word "Skeptical"?

First known use: 1639.