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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of skeptical
For the most part, however, Wall Street is skeptical that the stock will see more gains from here.
—
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
All three justices — Michelle Kim, Gregory Weingart and Helen Bendix — directed skeptical questions to Weinstein’s attorney.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
George Derek Musgrove, an associate professor of history at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, was skeptical of McCormick’s effort because the congressman said the measure stemmed from the results of the Virginia referendum, which could benefit Democrats.
—Jesse Bedayn, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
Many are skeptical that the fast-fashion shoe brand will be able to make such a big switch in entering the convoluted tech space.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
All three justices — Michelle Kim, Gregory Weingart and Helen Bendix — directed skeptical questions to Weinstein’s attorney.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
George Derek Musgrove, an associate professor of history at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, was skeptical of McCormick’s effort because the congressman said the measure stemmed from the results of the Virginia referendum, which could benefit Democrats.
—Jesse Bedayn, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
Many are skeptical that the fast-fashion shoe brand will be able to make such a big switch in entering the convoluted tech space.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeptical
Adjective
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Water testing has been temporarily increased to once a month at the Oceanside Harbor after someone reported seeing a suspicious liquid dumped from a boat.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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In October, Havens ran off after attendees at a school volleyball game notified a Will County sheriff’s office school resource officer of suspicious behavior, according to a sheriff’s news release at the time.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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About one quarter, 26%, remain unsure; that response is unchanged since the youth poll's fall 2025 survey.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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Looking unsure and a bit lost, VIPs from the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami straggle into the dim underground garage of a nondescript Little Havana strip mall on a recent Saturday morning.—
Carl Juste,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Be cautious of any company that pushes a specific program without understanding your circumstances.—
Rebecca Safier,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Visitors should be cautious about going into a sea cave without a guide, as a swell can flow into it and dramatically raise the water level in a matter of seconds, pushing kayaks into rocks and leaving little air for those trapped inside.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Sixers initially listed him as doubtful, then upgraded him to questionable less than 90 minutes before game time.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
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One explanation is simply that investors are doubtful of new highs in stocks and hedging against risks like the Iran war and crude oil.—
Oliver Renick,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Starmer’s explanation was greeted with jeers from opposition lawmakers, incredulous that the nation’s leader hadn’t known such a crucial piece of information.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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The judge, Cedric Simpson, was incredulous.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Something that felt uncertain now becomes obvious.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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Whether there's enough support to pass such a measure is uncertain.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Detecting such tiny numbers of atoms takes time, and the setup requires careful calibration and advanced equipment.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The mood on Friday was celebratory yet wary.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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Despite some recent all-time stock market highs, most Americans are wary about investing.—
Emily Guskin,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skeptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeptical. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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