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View synonyms for skeptic

skeptic

or scep·tic

[ skep-tik ]

noun

  1. a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.
  2. a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.
  3. a person who doubts the truth of a religion, especially Christianity, or of important elements of it.

    Synonyms: doubter

    Antonyms: believer

  4. (initial capital letter) Philosophy.
    1. a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.
    2. any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.


adjective

  1. pertaining to skeptics or skepticism; skeptical.
  2. (initial capital letter) pertaining to the Skeptics.

skeptic

/ ˈskɛptɪk /

noun

  1. an archaic, and the usual US, spelling of sceptic
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈskepticism, noun
  • ˈskepticalness, noun
  • ˈskeptical, adjective
  • ˈskeptically, adverb
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Other Words From

  • anti·skeptic noun
  • non·skeptic adjective noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of skeptic1

1565–75; < Late Latin scepticus thoughtful, inquiring (in plural Scepticī the Skeptics) < Greek skeptikós, equivalent to sképt ( esthai ) to consider, examine (akin to skopeîn to look; -scope ) + -ikos -ic
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Then on Thursday, Trump named Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vociferous vaccine skeptic who has promoted false conspiracy theories concerning healthcare, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

He's been a vocal skeptic of vaccines for decades and opposes drinking water fluoridation.

From Salon

Although Wilson will always be associated with the gullible and weaselly Dwight Schrute on NBC’s “The Office,” and Mandvi recently won a devoted fan following for his portrayal of the science-minded skeptic Ben Shakir in “Evil” on Paramount+, both men refer to theater as their first — and biggest — love.

“He’s going to make America healthy again,” Trump said of Kennedy, who is vaccine skeptic.

Does it matter that the Trump campaign has supposedly dangled to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the most well-known vaccine skeptic in the country, a government role overseeing “health and food safety”? Why not cut out the middleman and put the brain worm directly in charge?

From Slate

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