Synonyms of skeptical

skeptical

adjective

ˈskep-ti-kəl 

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

• suspicious
• cautious
• incredulous
• careful
• wary
• doubting
• questioning
• distrustful
• disbelieving
• mistrustful
• unbelieving
• show-me
• cynical
• negativistic
• paranoid
• curious
• suspecting
• leery
• puzzled
• unsure
• quizzical
• experienced
• unconvinced
• hesitant
• watchful
• critical
• inquisitive
• guarded
• uncertain
• gun-shy
• sophisticated
• undecided
• worldly
• nosy
• knowing
• worldly-wise
• undetermined
• inquiring
• unsettled
• snoopy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• credulous
• gullible
• uncritical
• naive
• trusting
• trustful
• unquestioning
• confident
• unsophisticated
• positive
• sure
• green
• certain
• simple
• ingenuous
• innocent
• wide-eyed
• unknowing
• unworldly
• simpleminded
• inexperienced
• idealistic
• impractical
• raw
• childlike
• callow
• deceived
• careless
• unsuspecting
• unsuspicious
• unwary
• heedless
• duped
• tricked
• beguiled
• gulled

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

• unsure
• suspicious
• doubtful
• uncertain
• unconvinced
• dubious
• unsettled
• distrustful
• mistrustful
• hesitant
• undecided
• ambivalent
• on the fence
• conflicted
• hinky
• trustless
• equivocal
• insecure
• diffident
• irresolute
• indecisive
• wavering
• vacillating
• halting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• positive
• certain
• sure
• convinced
• confident
• sanguine
• assured
• decisive
• determined
• resolute
• self-assured

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of skeptical

Polling shows Americans are largely skeptical of claims that the US must beat China at AI development, and that people are generally worried the technology is moving fast enough to pose a risk to their jobs and livelihood. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Watch your accounts, consider freezing your credit if sensitive information was exposed and be skeptical of urgent utility messages. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Matthieu Poux, an archaeology professor at the University of Lyon II who had been among those skeptical that Lutetia was on the Île de la Cité, told the Times the find changed his mind. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Fazio skeptical Republican gubernatorial nominee Ryan Fazio of Greenwich, who voted against the state budget that included the tax credit, told The Courant recently that Lamont has made little progress on healthcare. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026