skeptical
skep·ti·cal
adj \-ti-kəl\Definition of SKEPTICAL
: relating to, characteristic of, or marked by skepticism <a skeptical listener>
— skep·ti·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
See Examples of SKEPTICAL
- She's highly skeptical of the researchers' claims.
- He says he can win, but I remain skeptical.
- When I said I'd finished my homework early, Mom looked skeptical.
First Known Use of SKEPTICAL
1639
Related to SKEPTICAL
Synonyms: disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving
Related Words: paranoid (also paranoidal); critical, puzzled, quizzical; careful, cautious, guarded, gun-shy, leery (also leary), wary, watchful; cynical, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise; curious, inquiring, inquisitive, nosy (or nosey), snoopy; uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, undetermined, unsettled, unsure; hesitant
Near Antonyms: green, ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), simple, simpleminded, unknowing, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed; certain, confident, positive, sure; callow, inexperienced, raw; childlike, idealistic, impractical; beguiled, deceived, duped, gulled, tricked; careless, heedless, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary
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