skeptical

adjective

skep·​ti·​cal ˈskep-ti-kəl 

: relating to, characteristic of, or marked by skepticism

a skeptical listener

skeptically

ˈskep-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of skeptical

• suspicious
• cautious
• incredulous
• careful
• wary
• doubting
• questioning
• distrustful
• disbelieving
• mistrustful

Examples of skeptical in a Sentence

She's highly skeptical of the researchers' claims.

He says he can win, but I remain skeptical.

When I said I'd finished my homework early, Mom looked skeptical.

Recent Examples on the Web

Watchlist volume jumps an average of 40 times for Unreleased Gems titles specifically, according to figures Letterboxd has publicly cited, numbers a filmmaker can point to that a skeptical buyer can’t wave away. — Joshua Encinias, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026

The judges appeared skeptical of the arguments made by three prediction market companies. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

The clash in Doña Ana is a microcosm of battles brewing across the US and abroad, as tech firms urgently shift from working in the shadows to trying to win over an increasingly skeptical public. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Even as other states and foreign governments invested in their own film industries and began luring away productions from California, lawmakers in Sacramento were initially skeptical of giving tax breaks to producers. — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1639, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for skeptical

• sceptical
• receptacle

Kids Definition

skeptical

adjective

skep·​ti·​cal ˈskep-ti-kəl 

: relating to or marked by doubt

skeptically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb