as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims
unbelieving scientists who demand that all phenomena be subjected to rigorous scientific scrutiny
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 unbelieving
One day, the elusive Seth meets the equally alluring but totally living doctor Maggie (Meg Ryan), who is suspicious and unbelieving of the mystical wonders of this world.
—
Nathan Smith, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2024
As punishment, God confines them to the desert for 40 years, until the unbelieving generation ...
—Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 10 Sep. 2023
He was told that unbelieving boys and girls in short dresses and naked arms met in these places and fell in love.
—The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2022
Discipleship, ministry and mission all happened in homes as families lived out their faith in Jesus in the midst of an unbelieving world.
—The Rev. Bill Thomas, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 12 Dec. 2020
The story centers on two scientists who, upon discovering that a meteor will strike the Earth in six months, go on a media tour to try to warn the world but find an unreceptive and unbelieving populace.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2020
Nathan Smith, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2024
As punishment, God confines them to the desert for 40 years, until the unbelieving generation ...
—Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 10 Sep. 2023
He was told that unbelieving boys and girls in short dresses and naked arms met in these places and fell in love.
—The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2022
Discipleship, ministry and mission all happened in homes as families lived out their faith in Jesus in the midst of an unbelieving world.
—The Rev. Bill Thomas, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 12 Dec. 2020
The story centers on two scientists who, upon discovering that a meteor will strike the Earth in six months, go on a media tour to try to warn the world but find an unreceptive and unbelieving populace.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unbelieving
Adjective
-
By threading the needle, OpenAI found a way to placate both the Pentagon and its own employees, many of whom are skeptical of AI use in the military.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
-
That’s left some industry executives skeptical that Paramount will make good on its promise to increase its output of streaming programming, while making 30 theatrical film releases a year, the most of any studio by a wide margin.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Others didn’t want to hear explanation, suspicious of a larger culture that considers anti-Blackness the usual weather, on some psychic level, basically tolerable.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
-
This ritual has taken on new meaning now that my parents received word from their doctor on the same day, that Mother has Stage 4 cancer and Father has a suspicious spot on his pancreas.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Other critics are taking a more cautious approach.—
Arielle Zionts,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Lujan Grisham wraps up her tenure next year, and state lawmakers wary of unchecked spending opted during the legislative session that ended last month to take a cautious approach.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fellow vegans in the comments were incredulous — what of the bear cub carcass Kennedy claimed to have dumped in Central Park or his lifelong interest in hunting?—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The Canadian curlers looked incredulous and angry.—
STEVE DOUGLAS,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unbelieving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unbelieving. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
