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

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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

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 Overton would also need to tend to the priorities of Kennedy’s health movement, some members of which are already skeptical of her. — Matthew Perrone, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 Voters throughout the country, according to recent CBS News/YouGov polling, are skeptical of data centers. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Following Wednesday’s Treasury announcement, some investors and market watchers were skeptical that the move would have any lasting impact. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026 While analysts are skeptical that such high charges would come to fruition, many see a fee system of some kind as inevitable. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 18 Aug. 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
  • The person asked for gas money and Bitcoin, requests the family found suspicious because Goods doesn't drive and didn't have a car in Las Vegas.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The suspicious em dash—and the easily disprovable notion that only AI used them—was offered as a telltale sign.
    — M. C. Mah, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of suspicious
Adjective
  • The titular gang comprises Mac (McElhenney), a closeted wannabe tough guy; the narcissistic prepster Dennis (Glenn Howerton); Dennis’s chronically unsure fraternal twin, Dee (Kaitlin Olson); and the bar’s buffoonish janitor, Charlie (Charlie Day).
    — Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Still, stakeholders are unsure what effects a veto override will have.
    — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsure
Adjective
  • Officials were urging residents to be cautious as the hurricane approached.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Despite expert consensus ranking him QB2 (31st overall), there's reason to be cautious.
    — Steve Bradshaw, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • For much of last year, Head Start, the federal program that provides child-care and preschool services for low-income families, appeared to have a doubtful future.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Even if the limb could be spared, its future usefulness was doubtful.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of doubtful
Adjective
  • Besides, there are tree branches to bundle, coupons to clip, guacamole to toss out, incredulous news reports to run through Snopes and at least 20 spam texts to block.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • His incredulous response opens the door to a fight that escalates quickly.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of incredulous
Adjective
  • Why people are uncertain about vaccines Vaccine hesitancy is much more complicated than outright opposition to vaccines, Steier said.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Traditional business moats are eroding, exemplified by Chegg's collapse, as the market prices certainty into an inherently uncertain technology, causing unprecedented volatility and layoffs.
    — Jemma Green, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of uncertain
Adjective
  • Without careful planning to reduce the constellations’ brightness, the team found that, in the most extreme case, the satellites could outnumber visible stars by a factor of 100.
    — Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Maneuvering in tight spaces requires careful judgment of each individual case — and not just about which body part is least likely to cause offense when brought into close proximity to a fellow diner.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Moscow, meanwhile, is widely seen as remaining wary of opening the door for Chinese security engagement in the Arctic, hoping instead that China will continue to buy up energy and broaden its role building out a lucrative NSR.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Some investors are wary that alternative data management system PostgreSQL could steal market share from MongoDB, driving down the stock by more than 40% in the first quarter, Ikeda said.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of wary

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skeptic
skeptical
skeptically
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Cite this Entry

“Skeptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeptical. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of skeptical for Spanish Speakers

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