incredulous

adjective

in·​cred·​u·​lous (ˌ)in-ˈkre-jə-ləs 

-dyə-ləs

1

: unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true : not credulous : skeptical

2

: expressing incredulity

an incredulous stare

3

: incredible sense 1

incredulously adverb

Can incredulous mean 'incredible'?: Usage Guide

Sense 3 was revived in the 20th century after a couple of centuries of disuse. Although it is a sense with good literary precedent—among others Shakespeare used it—it is widely regarded as an error resulting from confusion with incredible, and its occurrence in published writing is rare.

Synonyms

• disbelieving
• distrustful
• doubting
• mistrustful
• negativistic
• questioning
• show-me
• skeptical
• suspecting
• suspicious
• unbelieving

Examples of incredulous in a Sentence

"Afraid not." I made an expression to show that I was as incredulous about this as he was. —Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999

A tweed-encased fogey, he's allergic to technology, persnickety about language, and incredulous that anyone could object to his incessant smoking. —John Powers, Vogue, March 1998

He was greeted with incredulous laughter. —Robert M. Hutchins, Center Magazine, September 1968

… no obstacle, no incredulous or unsafe circumstance … —William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, 1602

She listened to his explanation with an incredulous smile.

He was incredulous at the news.

Many people were incredulous that such a small fire could have caused so much damage.

Recent Examples on the Web

For some incredulous viewers, Rachel posted a second video – it's gotten nearly a half million views – showing the bullet on the floor and police surveying their home. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024

Michael Phillis’ Timmy is breezily inattentive but also jealous and easily agitated, while Gabriel Brown’s Sam is incredulous and defensive. —Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin incredulus, from in- + credulus credulous

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

incredulous

adjective

in·​cred·​u·​lous (ˈ)in-ˈkrej-ə-ləs 

: feeling or showing an inability to believe something : skeptical

listened with an incredulous smile

incredulously adverb