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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Recent Examples of skeptical
Stephen Walt says Trump should be skeptical of U.S. adventures abroad.
—
Greg Myre, NPR, 28 May 2025
Hoda Kotb, veteran cohost of the Today show, was skeptical but willing to try it.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 28 May 2025
However, Senate Republicans have been skeptical of a blanket adoption of the measures in the chamber’s government funding bills for 2026.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 27 May 2025
But to others, the move indicated that some lawmakers remain skeptical of spending so much on the program.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Greg Myre, NPR, 28 May 2025
Hoda Kotb, veteran cohost of the Today show, was skeptical but willing to try it.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 28 May 2025
However, Senate Republicans have been skeptical of a blanket adoption of the measures in the chamber’s government funding bills for 2026.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 27 May 2025
But to others, the move indicated that some lawmakers remain skeptical of spending so much on the program.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeptical
Adjective
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There was no indication of suspicious activity and no danger to the public, police said.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
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On Wednesday, an investigator spied a suspicious drone over the detention center shortly before 3 a.m. and tracked it to a landing spot on top of an SUV parked just down the road.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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When Ginny & Georgia’s Brianne Howey entered the courtroom set for Season 3, she was tasked with playing a new version of her usually confident and cunning character– one that was now afraid, powerless, and exceedingly unsure of herself.—
Jennifer Adams,
StyleCaster,
5 June 2025
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Fewer than half of U.S. businesses report having a formal crisis communication plan, and 23% either don’t have one or are unsure if a plan exists.—
Nicole Tidei,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The Chiefs, who have a history of being cautious with their rookies during summer practices, nonetheless had Simmons participate in non-team drills during rookie minicamp last month.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
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Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web. 7) Be cautious with payment methods: Use secure payment options like credit cards, which often offer better fraud protection than wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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Allen set a course record in the victory and sent a postcard to her doubtful doctor afterward.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
25 May 2025
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The marathon meeting came and went as House Republican leaders are looking to get the Trump agenda bill through the chamber by Memorial Day, an ambitious timeline that some lawmakers are doubtful of.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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After 12 Days Tony Botti, a public information officer for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said during the news conference that officials are incredulous that Slaton was able to travel so far via bicycle and on foot.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
15 May 2025
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In a TikTok video, the woman shared the shaky video her boyfriend took, receiving over 980,000 views and over 1,600 comments from incredulous TikTokers.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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His departure marks the second shortest time any actor has spent as the Doctor — logging in just one more season than Christopher Eccleston — and certainly leaves the future of the iconic British show uncertain.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
31 May 2025
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Though Bonnie had experience with bottle babies, this kitten's fragile condition made survival uncertain.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Many participants with conflicting ideologies also reported cohabiting peacefully for the most part, while being careful not to bring up divisive topics and focus on their similarities instead.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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This thing is razor sharp though, be careful when using it in the backcountry.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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While some swear by the cleaning product for disinfecting their dishwasher, others may be wary and opt for something different.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
26 May 2025
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Those in disaster-prone states, such as Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) in Florida, hold a pessimistic view of FEMA and are wary of affording it greater power.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skeptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeptical. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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