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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skeptical
Given the facts of Comey's case, experts are skeptical that the Justice Department can show that Comey's speech is not covered by the First Amendment.
—
Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 1 May 2026
There are a few traits that can make any evaluator skeptical of Martínez’s offensive ceiling.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Adger struggled to stand and walk, and deputies appeared skeptical.
—Darrell Smith
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Despite what appear to be recent favorable price trends, plastic recyclers remain skeptical about their long-term prospects.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 1 May 2026
There are a few traits that can make any evaluator skeptical of Martínez’s offensive ceiling.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Adger struggled to stand and walk, and deputies appeared skeptical.
—Darrell Smith
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
Despite what appear to be recent favorable price trends, plastic recyclers remain skeptical about their long-term prospects.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeptical
Adjective
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Charmed at first, Nella soon becomes confused and suspicious of her alleged ally as their approaches to racial bias and diversity begin to sharply diverge and the story, told through a past and present timeline, unravels with unexpected twists.—
Laura Zigman,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
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Los Angeles police evacuated Terminal 2 at LAX on Friday night amid an investigation into a suspicious item.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Confused and unsure what to do, a BSO deputy told him his only option was to try to rebook with another airline and hope to make it in time for his daughter’s communion.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
-
Thirty-five percent of unsure voters ticked that box, with 33% of young voters doing so.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The measure passed Wednesday stops short of a categorical ban that some have sought, but was still met with cautious optimism by traffic safety reformers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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The defense, which only improved post-Olympics after Paul Coffey returned behind the bench, collapsed in front of an incredibly cautious goaltending tandem.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
6 May 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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His comments prompted jeers and incredulous laughs.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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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
Adjective
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The team now plans to further refine the method for broader industrial applications where robots must operate under uncertain or changing conditions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
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In March, Beijing set its lowest growth target in decades, as the world’s second-largest economy grapples with weak domestic demand and an uncertain global outlook.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 May 2026
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Through some careful engineering, Roberts, Alito, and their allies have created a trap for voting-rights cases.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Abraham Lincoln was wary of the doctrine, perceiving that any such notion of divine inevitability could be used to justify land grabs and war.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Perhaps the rest of the league owners are now wary about dealing with the Hornets.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skeptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeptical. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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