skeptical

"Skeptical" is a great word to know! It has one core meaning, but it shows up in many different situations — from everyday conversations to science and philosophy. It describes a particular attitude or feeling toward something you're not sure you can trust or believe.

1adjectivedoubting or unsure

When you are skeptical, you are not easily convinced. You hear something and think, 'Really? I'm not so sure about that.' It's that feeling of needing more proof before you believe something. Being skeptical doesn't mean you are rude or negative — it just means you think carefully before accepting something as true.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

She was skeptical when her friend said the new diet could help you lose 10 kilos in a week.

The students were skeptical about the experiment's results, so they decided to repeat it.

I'm a little skeptical about that news story — I'd like to check a few other sources first.

2adjectivequestioning claims or authority

In a broader sense, a skeptical person is someone who regularly questions what they are told, especially by experts, the media, or people in power. Think of it as a habit of mind — always asking 'How do we know this is true?' This is considered a positive quality in science and critical thinking.

science, critical thinking · Modern, widely used

A good scientist should always be skeptical and test ideas before accepting them.

He was skeptical of the company's promises and read the contract very carefully.

Being skeptical of advertising is a smart habit — companies want to sell you things, after all.

3adjectivefigurativeexpressing disbelief through tone or body language

You can also use 'skeptical' to describe how someone looks or sounds when they don't believe something. Imagine someone raising one eyebrow and saying 'Sure...' — that's a skeptical expression. It's the outward sign of inner doubt.

everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative

When he said he had finished all his homework in ten minutes, his teacher gave him a skeptical look.

'You won the lottery?' she said, in a skeptical tone.

The audience looked skeptical as the salesman described all the amazing features of the product.