as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims
the senator stated her case before a disbelieving press corps
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in denying
to think not to be true or real
many disbelieved the medium's claims that she could communicate with the spirits of the dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disbelieving
John Wrory Ficklin, Time, 11 Feb. 2026
The higher-ups are disbelieving, but Alex points out that the network has a fancy new AI that can replicate her voice in a zillion languages.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Pearl, Dale’s adult daughter, vacillates between disbelieving that her father committed suicide and blaming her mother for it.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
When Mom reached Dad on the telephone in the White House pantry to commiserate over the earth-shattering news, Dad’s response was disbelieving.
—John Wrory Ficklin, Time, 11 Feb. 2026
The higher-ups are disbelieving, but Alex points out that the network has a fancy new AI that can replicate her voice in a zillion languages.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Pearl, Dale’s adult daughter, vacillates between disbelieving that her father committed suicide and blaming her mother for it.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disbelieving
Adjective
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But some Cuban-American senators seemed a bit more skeptical in their comments on the diplomatic talks between the United States and Cuba.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
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American militia sought revenge for these raids, skeptical of Christian Indians’ claims of neutrality as the war ground on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This founding tenet of the Bel Paese now looks set to change — ending diaspora dreams of returning to the mother country, and meaning that Italians who move abroad risk denying citizenship to their descendants.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
14 Mar. 2026
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This year there have been rumors about Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal joining forces for Reiner, but the organizers are neither confirming nor denying that reunion.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Massachusetts State Police ask that anyone who sees anything suspicious call 911.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
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Noboa characterized the action as suspicious because diplomatic documents have international protections.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There is no doubting Palmer’s world-class quality or his ability to produce it against elite opposition.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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On Friday night, there was no doubting these Thomases.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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One day, the elusive Seth meets the equally alluring but totally living doctor Maggie (Meg Ryan), who is suspicious and unbelieving of the mystical wonders of this world.—
Nathan Smith,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2024
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As punishment, God confines them to the desert for 40 years, until the unbelieving generation ...—
Madeleine Kearns,
National Review,
10 Sep. 2023
Adjective
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Travelers at the airport Monday who heard about the vote were incredulous.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Fellow vegans in the comments were incredulous — what of the bear cub carcass Kennedy claimed to have dumped in Central Park or his lifelong interest in hunting?—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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By contrast Zoox, acquired by Amazon in 2020, has been more cautious and careful to deploy a service on public streets.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
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Venezuelan players and coaches are incredibly cautious commenting publicly on politics of the country – to do so could draw additional attention to themselves.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disbelieving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disbelieving. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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