1
as in suspicious
inclined to doubt or question claims
it's good to be skeptical about what you see on TV
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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
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Recent Examples of skeptical
In oral arguments in early April, justices appeared skeptical of the legality of the executive order.
—
Josh Feldman,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
Analysts on Wall Street broadly are still skeptical of CEO Elliott Hill's turnaround plan.
—
Liz Napolitano,hugh Leask,lee Ying Shan,lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
30 June 2026
But being intellectually skeptical of something is not the same as banishing it from one’s existence.
—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2026
Gorsuch was skeptical about Chatrie’s expectation of privacy after allowing Google access to his location data.
—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Josh Feldman,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
Analysts on Wall Street broadly are still skeptical of CEO Elliott Hill's turnaround plan.
—
Liz Napolitano,hugh Leask,lee Ying Shan,lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
30 June 2026
But being intellectually skeptical of something is not the same as banishing it from one’s existence.
—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2026
Gorsuch was skeptical about Chatrie’s expectation of privacy after allowing Google access to his location data.
—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeptical
Adjective
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Large-scale events involve tabletop exercises with law enforcement, fire departments, emergency managers and venue officials running through countless scenarios — evacuations, suspicious packages, drones and crowd surges.
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Residents who witness suspicious activity can contact non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 or call 911 when appropriate.
Adjective
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Standards are high at the Etihad Stadium after 10 years of Guardiola and Manchester City is counting on Maresca being the right man to keep this going even if many of the club’s own supporters are unsure.
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People are unsure about the industry for good reason, with everything happening with AI and in the world.
Adjective
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Berkeley adopted a more cautious approach.
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The data also points to a more cautious approach to automation than much of the AI industry’s messaging might suggest.
Adjective
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Three centuries later, the librarians of Alexandria took charge of the text, collating competing versions, marking doubtful lines, imposing a measure of order on the teeming verses.
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Sounding doubtful and defeated, Jessica hung up.
Adjective
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On several occasions throughout the game, Lakers players were incredulous after calls – or non-calls – from the crew.
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On several occasions, Lakers players were incredulous after calls — or no-calls — from the crew.
Adjective
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For now, advocates say preparation and persistence are critical as the community faces an uncertain future.
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The bold story choice, which reunites the staff for what may be their final kitchen service as the restaurant faces an uncertain future, was met with enthusiasm from the cast.
Adjective
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Determination and careful calculations — hold on, carry the 2 — are a must.
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Graduate students face lower federal limits and the loss of Grad PLUS, requiring careful financial planning.
Adjective
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Not only is the water less aesthetically pleasing, but Abrams is wary of it.
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Stiff opposition certainly will emerge, and cost-of-living worries have the public wary of being charged more for anything, but the new revenue is for popular spending targets.
Cite this Entry
“Skeptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeptical. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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