Meaning & use
skepticism
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Meanings
noununcountable
A habit of doubting what people claim until you have seen good evidence that it is true.
Grammar: Usually uncountable; often followed by about, toward or of: skepticism about the results.
Patterns
- skepticism about something
- skepticism toward someone
- with skepticism
The scientists greeted the miracle cure with skepticism.
A healthy dose of skepticism helps you spot misleading advertisements.
Her skepticism about the schedule turned out to be justified.
noununcountabletechnical
In philosophy, the view that certain knowledge is impossible, or that we should hold back from claiming we know things.
Grammar: Often refers to a school of thought, as in philosophical skepticism.
Patterns
- skepticism about something
The course begins with ancient Greek skepticism.
Philosophical skepticism asks how we can be sure the world is not an illusion.
His essay defends a mild form of skepticism about memory.
Common combinations
- healthy skepticism
- A healthy skepticism kept him from clicking the strange link.
- treat something with skepticism
- Editors treat anonymous claims with skepticism.
- deep skepticism
- There is deep skepticism among voters about the promises.
- express skepticism
- The coach expressed skepticism about the new training plan.
- public skepticism
- Public skepticism grew after the third delay.
Synonyms and how they differ
- doubt
- Doubt is a single uncertain feeling about one claim, while skepticism is a general habit of questioning.
- incredulity
- Incredulity is an unwillingness or inability to believe something, usually a surprised reaction, and is stronger and more sudden than skepticism.
- suspicion
- Suspicion suggests you expect dishonesty, while skepticism only asks for proof.
- cynicism
- Cynicism assumes people act from selfish motives, whereas skepticism stays open to being convinced by evidence.
Opposites
Word family
- skeptic noun
- a person who doubts claims until shown proof
- skeptical adjective
- doubting that something is true or wise
- skeptically adverb
- in a way that shows doubt
Commonly confused: skepticism or cynicism?
skepticism vs cynicism
A cynic distrusts people's motives and expects the worst. A skeptic simply wants evidence and can change their mind.
Practice
The reporter listened with ___ because the company had broken similar promises before.
Choose one answer.
Skepticism means doubting until evidence appears, which fits past broken promises. Gullibility is the opposite, being too ready to believe.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “skepticism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.