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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skeptical
Analysts are skeptical that the threat of more sanctions will move Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table in good faith, let alone talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
—
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 27 July 2025
And given that the FCC in 1987 did away with its Fairness Doctrine, which mandated that broadcasters provide alternate points of view, courts likely would be skeptical of any effort by the agency to judge whether something is biased or not.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 July 2025
The moment of truth arrived when Adams FaceTimed Phillips— initially confused and skeptical about her whereabouts.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 25 July 2025
Her first trip was to Brussels to meet with the traditionally conservative von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who had been skeptical of Meloni’s rise.
—Massimo Calabresi, Time, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 27 July 2025
And given that the FCC in 1987 did away with its Fairness Doctrine, which mandated that broadcasters provide alternate points of view, courts likely would be skeptical of any effort by the agency to judge whether something is biased or not.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 July 2025
The moment of truth arrived when Adams FaceTimed Phillips— initially confused and skeptical about her whereabouts.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 25 July 2025
Her first trip was to Brussels to meet with the traditionally conservative von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who had been skeptical of Meloni’s rise.
—Massimo Calabresi, Time, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeptical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeptical
Adjective
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Turquoise Alerts are for missing endangered persons under 65 in suspicious circumstances, while Silver Alerts are for those 65+ or with cognitive disabilities.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
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Cops said an investigation began when a woman who had recently paid for a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party noticed about $100 worth of suspicious charges on her credit card, the Democrat reported.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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Local media outlets earlier in the day said that Ishiba was unsure of his future and would take a call on whether to continue as prime minister in August.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
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If the Dodgers are unable to make a deal with Cleveland, there are other options on the market, but many teams are unsure of their path leading up to the trade deadline.—
Hunter Mulholland,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Be cautious using public Wi-Fi Avoid logging into accounts on public Wi-Fi or always use a VPN.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
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Swimmers should be cautious of cold shock in waters below 60 degrees.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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That chain of events is doubtful since Verstappen backed Horner in the media days before the firing.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
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Moments before the ceremony, her attendance was doubtful.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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The spectacle left many South Africans watching at home incredulous and saw Ramaphosa make his strongest remarks on the matter yet.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
15 May 2025
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Since being posted, the video has been viewed more than 8 million times and liked by over 160,000 users, leaving viewers both entertained and incredulous.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
The shift is rapid, relentless, and, for millions of Americans, deeply uncertain.—
John Hope Bryant,
Time,
31 July 2025
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Alexander Isak is training individually at former club Real Sociedad with his future at Newcastle United uncertain.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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However, realizing these benefits demands careful tool selection, integration, oversight and governance.—
John Arsneault,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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Both pranking and writing are exercises in careful observation.—
Katie Yee
July 25,
Literary Hub,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Judge, always wary of self-congratulation, downplayed his contributions.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
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Safeties will be wary of the 221-pounder, enhancing Herbert’s long-ball options.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skeptical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeptical. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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