sceptical
SaySKEP-ti-kuhl/ˈskɛptɪkəl/
US spellingskeptical
- 1Feeling or showing doubt about whether something is true or right; inclined to question rather than accept.
Many economists remain sceptical of the Chancellor's growth forecasts.
She gave me a sceptical look when I blamed the trains for being late again.
UsageUsed with about or of: sceptical about the claims, sceptical of the forecasts.
Similardoubtful, dubious, unconvinced, suspicious, distrustful
- 2Relating to philosophical scepticism, which questions whether certain knowledge is possible, or to the sceptics who held that view.
Hume's sceptical arguments about cause and effect still trouble philosophers.
The seminar traced the sceptical tradition from Pyrrho to Montaigne.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of sceptical apart? Answer 2 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From Latin scepticus or English sceptic, + -al.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- From Latin scepticus plus -al; the adjective is attested earlier than English sceptic. en.wiktionary.org