skeptical

adjective

ˈskep-ti-kəl How to pronounce skeptical (audio)
Definition of skepticalnext
1
as in suspicious
inclined to doubt or question claims it's good to be skeptical about what you see on TV

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something I'm a little skeptical of this low bid, since it's way below what the other contractors said that they would charge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 skeptical Some voters remain skeptical of the Democrats as an alternative, or see little distinction between the parties. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026 Many inside the administration are skeptical about resuming military operations against Iran. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2026 Heytens was deeply skeptical that the Virginia law purporting to regulate federal officers passes constitutional muster. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026 And Senator Darline Graham’s brother, Lindsey Graham, had a complicated relationship with some Republicans who were skeptical of his views on foreign policy and immigration. — New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeptical
  1. suspicious
  2. unsure
  3. cautious
  4. doubtful
  5. incredulous
  6. uncertain
  7. careful
  8. wary
Adjective
  • There were also questions about discrepancies involving missing text messages from the night Kylie vanished and suspicious marks in the home.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • There are furtive text exchanges and suspicious trips to town.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of suspicious
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Corbett is unsure about the future of her space inside the building.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Trump’s immigration crackdown has put the American dream on hold for aspiring immigrants, who remain unsure whether the election will bring meaningful policy changes.
    — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of unsure
Adjective
  • During this time, mature bucks become increasingly active and less cautious to establish dominance within their territory.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The challenge now is balancing expansion with operational discipline, particularly as Cava enters new markets and consumers become more cautious about spending.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • Starting small forward Pelle Larsson, who is dealing with an illness, was downgraded from questionable to doubtful during the afternoon and then ruled out two hours before tip-off.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Among those listed as doubtful is starting receiver Waden Charles, who is tied for second on the team in receptions (25) and third in receiving yards (285).
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of doubtful
Adjective
  • Cam asked her, incredulous that his talkative fiancée had nothing to say.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Some congressional Democrats were incredulous, saying the email might simply have been deleted and that the firm’s analysis did not explain why or how someone might have manufactured the message.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of incredulous
Adjective
  • But their presence in the North Carolina beverage market is facing an uncertain future as lawmakers consider tighter restrictions on hemp products.
    — Evan Moore November 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2026
  • With the year nearing its end, the launch window remains uncertain.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of uncertain
Adjective
  • This may reduce duplication, although temporary processing, logging, vendors and model-provider retention policies still need careful review.
    — Steve Dawson, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • That flexibility could benefit experiments and sensitive equipment requiring careful handling after landing.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Be wary of prices that sound too good to be true, such as unusually low prices, high-pressure calls for action, unexpected transactions or suspicious requests for payment.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The team reflects a compromise over who speaks for Europe, but leaders remain wary that Washington and Moscow could shape a settlement at the expense of Ukraine and European security.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of wary

Browse Nearby Words

skeptic
skeptical
skeptically
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Skeptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeptical. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All