disbelieving 1 of 2

adjective

as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims the senator stated her case before a disbelieving press corps

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disbelieving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of disbelieve
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disbelieving
Adjective
During one scene, Scherrman appears for a few seconds as the catcher in a game interrupted by Timothy Busfield, the disbelieving brother-in-law of Kevin Costner's character Ray Kinsella. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 During one scene, Scherrman appears for a few seconds as the catcher in a game interrupted by Timothy Busfield, the disbelieving brother-in-law of Kevin Costner’s character Ray Kinsella. — Dave Campbell, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Muchová went up 3-1 early with a crouching forehand volley that just plopped inside the court, prompting applause from Gauff and a disbelieving shake of the head from Muchová. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Verb
There are shirts being whirled all around me as disbelieving fans soak in the celebrations with their squad. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 That same disbelieving fullness. — Vin Diesel, Variety, 16 May 2026 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
  1. skeptical
  2. denying
  3. suspicious
  4. doubting
  5. unbelieving
  6. incredulous
  7. cautious
Adjective
  • In one image, Grande’s Olivia Jones stands beside De Niro’s Byrnes, who wears a decidedly skeptical expression, her hand resting on his German shepherd.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Jorge Piñón, an energy researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, is skeptical of the data and noted that only sanctioned Cuban state energy company CUPET has the capacity to store such a large quantity of fuel in one month.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of skeptical
Verb
  • Attorneys for two of them have gotten back to us, denying the allegations.
    — Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But there’s no denying the dynasty-chasing Dodgers are in trouble after the Brewers won games started by Los Angeles’ dynamic duo of Tarik Skubal and Yamamoto.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of denying
Adjective
  • Strong antivirus software can help detect malicious downloads, suspicious links and other threats that may show up in follow-up scams.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Abby became suspicious of Kuehl during a private conversation about possible traitors in the group.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of suspicious
Verb
  • Moya went from doubting her ability to handle full-time work to thriving on it.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Koltai remembers doubting his son Devyn’s suggestion to sell tote bags.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of doubting
Adjective
  • 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
  • He was told that unbelieving boys and girls in short dresses and naked arms met in these places and fell in love.
    — The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2022
Definition of unbelieving
Adjective
  • In a true turn of events that would seem almost incredulous in a Hollywood script, the boss of a now defunct production company that specialized in true crime is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The title comes from a phrase that became part of his creative vocabulary and began appearing in sketches whenever an absurd situation called for a perfectly incredulous response.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of incredulous
Adjective
  • The actors Nael Nacer and Artemis Pebdani double as Haddad’s great-aunt and -uncle and parents, playing across a spectrum of discomfort and cautious support.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Feigenbaum offered a more cautious interpretation, describing some of the violent perpetrators as fringe provocateurs who exploit broader demonstrations without necessarily directing them.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of cautious

Browse Nearby Words

disbelieves
disbelieving
disbenefit
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Cite this Entry

“Disbelieving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disbelieving. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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