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

Derived Forms

• ˈskepticism, noun
• ˈskepticalness, noun
• ˈskeptical, adjective
• ˈskeptically, adverb

Other Words From

• anti·skeptic noun
• non·skeptic adjective noun

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

Synonym Study

See agnostic.

Example Sentences

Dr. Sasse may have been a skeptic, but the board that employed him was heavily focused on analyzing the company’s new method for scoring universities.

From New York Times

In elections this month, two ballpark supporters on the county commission were replaced by ballpark skeptics.

From Los Angeles Times

Thinking like this can turn you into a color skeptic.

From Salon

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon

Related Words

• agnostic
• cynic
• dissenter
• doubter
• pessimist
• questioner