skeptical
USSKEP-ti-kuhl/ˈskɛptɪkəl/
UK spellingsceptical
- 1Doubting that something is true, and wanting proof before believing it.
Like checking a bridge yourself before you trust it to hold your weight.
She was skeptical about the salesman's big promises.
Many people felt skeptical when they heard the strange story.
Similardoubtful, dubious, unconvinced, suspicious, incredulous
Oppositeconvinced, credulous, trusting, gullible
Note
- 2Belonging to a kind of philosophy that doubts whether we can truly know anything for sure.
Like always asking "But how do we really know that?" about every claim.
The professor explained the skeptical school of ancient Greek thought.
Her essay took a skeptical view, doubting that anything can be known for certain.
Note
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Origin
It comes from the Latin word "scepticus" plus "-al." You can also see it as "skeptic" plus "-al."