1
as in suspicious
inclined to doubt or question claims
it's good to be skeptical about what you see on TV
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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
Some analysts, however, are skeptical of the feasibility of this plan.
—
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Others remained more skeptical.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Policymakers should be highly skeptical.
—Sarah A. Font, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Wall Street has grown increasingly skeptical about Tesla’s 2026 sales prospects.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeptical
Adjective
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The committee has called on state officials to testify in closed-door, transcribed interviews, while requesting suspicious activity reports from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with a staff-level briefing from the Justice Department.—
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When the publication of his article is followed by the suspicious suicide of Dale Washberg, Lee follows a trail of breadcrumbs to find out the truth.—
Adjective
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Ballard said his clients in the country at the time were unsure of what to do in the immediate aftermath of Maduro's capture.—
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Maduro’s supporters gathered throughout the city, many bearing arms, but seemed unsure of what to do next.—
Adjective
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Be especially cautious in school zones and watch for children and the flashing lights of school buses.—
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Two years as a mental health patient had taught Virginia to be cautious.—
Adjective
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The Magic will continue to need more of the same from Richardson as the team operates without All-Defensive guard Jalen Suggs, who was ruled out of Tuesday’s contest at Washington after previously being listed as doubtful on the team’s initial injury report due to a right knee Grade 1 MCL bruise.—
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Fowler and Williams disappointed this season, making a return to Dallas feel doubtful.—
Adjective
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Even the most incredulous of us listened to him describe the visions of fleeting stars that were enchanting enough to swoon the most beautiful people on this poor Earth.—
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The Origin of the Moscow Mule The Moscow Mule has an incredulous origin story.—
Adjective
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At the moment, its age is still uncertain.—
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How Barton will advance his campaigns now is uncertain.—
Adjective
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
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These soft and chewy treats are the result of dozens of careful recipe tests.—
Adjective
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Hamilton, wary of France’s descent into chaos and its aggressive wars, contended that treaties are contracts with specific regimes, not eternal bonds irrespective of change.—
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As measles outbreaks flared up across the US last year, causing a record number of cases, Scott Thorpe kept a wary eye on Spartanburg County, South Carolina.—
Cite this Entry
“Skeptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeptical. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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