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 Photograph by Michael Friberg for the New Yorker Henderson was skeptical. — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 Conservative scholars say there are a number of candidates, but so far nobody has come forward and many are skeptical if anyone will volunteer. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Read his full profile of Sharma for more on Microsoft’s Xbox strategy and the unlikely non-gamer CEO who has won over the skeptical gaming community. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Those skeptical officials who have expressed little need for urgency include Fed Vice Chairman Philip Jefferson and New York Fed President John Williams. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 Oct. 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 authentication process combines human expertise and AI integration to flag any suspicious activity and ensure that listings follow commercial industry standards.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • What readers are saying The comments discuss a case involving a person who sent letters containing a suspicious substance, with many commenters criticizing the individual's intelligence for including his return address.
    — Violet Jira, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of suspicious
Adjective
  • The Salt Lake County clerk requests assistance to secure the polls, but the sheriff, unsure about jurisdiction, declines.
    — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The equipment truck had left spring training in Tempe, Arizona, and was in Salt Lake City, unsure where to go, when Selig called traveling secretary Tommy Ferguson, who had held the same job with the Braves.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsure
Adjective
  • Be cautious about unfamiliar apps with extensive permissions.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • And while Denton appears to be the right person to focus on cost savings and efficiencies, Wall Street remained cautious on the timing of Nike’s turnaround.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • Junior running back and leading rusher Jeremy Payne was listed as doubtful in the first player availability report for Saturday.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Senior linebacker Jaden Robinson also is listed as doubtful, providing more opportunity for sophomore Ty Jackson.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of doubtful
Adjective
  • Some congressional Democrats were incredulous, saying the email might simply have been deleted and that the firm’s analysis did not explain why or how someone might have manufactured the message.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In a true turn of events that would seem almost incredulous in a Hollywood script, the boss of a now defunct production company that specialized in true crime is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of incredulous
Adjective
  • Whether those disparate parties can form a government is uncertain and will likely take weeks of haggling.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Treating your partner with respect and appreciation can strengthen your bond and help both of you feel more secure in an uncertain world.
    — Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncertain
Adjective
  • Along with potentially leeching microplastics into your food, plastic food storage containers absorb stains, odors, and flavors, and many require careful hand-washing to prevent them from warping.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Gallery visitors were careful not to step on the sprawling assemblage of photographs, drawings and artifacts scattered across the floor.
    — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • Amazon’s $200 billion in third-quarter revenues were not enough to reassure investors, who have grown wary of the AI trade as surging debt and financing costs outpace revenues and push firms into negative cash flows.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Although the exhibition bears his name, McGee is wary of being the center of attention.
    — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2026.

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