skeptic

noun

skep·​tic ˈskep-tik 

1

: an adherent or advocate of skepticism

2

: a person disposed to skepticism especially regarding religion or religious principles

Synonyms of skeptic

• questioner

Examples of skeptic in a Sentence

Skeptics have pointed out flaws in the researchers' methods.

You can believe in ghosts if you like, but I'm still a skeptic.

He is a skeptic and a cynic.

Recent Examples on the Web

The company has defied skeptics with strong revenue quarter after quarter, despite political backlash against data centers and looming concerns about an AI financial bubble. — ABC News, 12 Nov. 2026

Even if Democrats can convince a sizable group of Republicans to trust their vaccine advice over Kennedy’s, a small and growing number of vaccine skeptics can cause public health havoc. — Nicholas Florko, STAT, 12 Nov. 2026

Likewise, the skeptic must consider whether overcoming the difficulties could preserve the original strategic objective and uncover value the investment case overlooked. — Asif Menghrani, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026

If Jensen Huang has been caught with his pants down with a Chinese spy, that’s only convenient for his political enemies in America, according to skeptics in Washington—and in Beijing. — John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin or Greek; Latin scepticus, from Greek skeptikos, from skeptikos thoughtful, from skeptesthai to look, consider — more at spy

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for skeptic

• peptic
• sceptic
• septic
• antiepileptic
• antiseptic
• epileptic
• neuroleptic
• aseptic
• dyspeptic
• organoleptic

Kids Definition

skeptic

noun

skep·​tic ˈskep-tik 

: a person slow to believe or ready to question : doubter