scepticalscep‧ti‧cal British English, skeptical American English /ˈskeptɪkəl/ ●○○ adjective 
I’m extremely sceptical about what I read in the press. Environmental groups are sceptical of the government’s claims.highly/deeply sceptical He is highly sceptical of the reforms. ‘You can trust me,’ he said. Jane looked sceptical.—sceptically /-kli/ adverb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- His attitude towards all religion is sceptical.
- When I started this investigation I was sceptical.
- But health union leaders remain sceptical, and fear services could be hit if the mall fails to take off.
- But the business community's sceptical about whether bartering would ever work on a larger scale.
- However, others are more sceptical of the significance of merely more women in positions of influence in the state.
- Hume's sceptical argument has been stated very schematically.
- If necessary put together a group of people who you know will be sceptical and try the presentation out on them first.
- Many are sceptical of the coroner's verdict of suicide.
- Marxists are sceptical of such claims and see the furtherance of class interests as of prime importance.
- Unlike Colin, who remains slightly sceptical, Mister C espouses the McKenna message with an evangelical fervour.
Longman Language Activatorwhen you do not believe something
to not believe that something is true or that someone is telling the truth: · She doesn't believe anything he tells her.· I told her it was an accident, but she didn't believe me.not believe (that): · I don't believe you meant half the things you said.not believe a word of it (=not believe it at all): · They say they're going to send me the money, but I don't believe a word of it.
formal to not believe something, especially something that someone has told you: · He had nothing to gain from lying so we saw no reason to disbelieve him.· Kim, of course, disbelieved every word the boy said.
to think that something may not really be true or that someone may not really be telling the truth, even though you are not completely sure: · In all the years I knew him I never once doubted his story.· He wondered how he could ever have doubted her.doubt (that): · He doubted that the car was hers because everyone knew she had no money.doubt whether/if: · They seriously doubted whether the letter had ever existed.I doubt it spoken: · He may be able to do a good job, but I doubt it.doubt very much/seriously doubt (=think something is almost certainly not true): · She says she'll leave him, but I doubt very much that she will.
British /take something with a grain of salt American to not completely believe what someone says to you because you know that they do not always tell the truth: · It's best to take what he says with a pinch of salt - he's always exaggerating.· Every once in a while I go to a psychic, but I take everything she says with a grain of salt.
the feeling that you cannot believe someone or something, especially because it is very surprising: · When people hear tragic news their first reaction is usually one of disbelief.· My story was met with a mixture of disbelief and contempt.do something in disbelief: · I stared at him in utter disbelief.
also skeptical American someone who is sceptical about something is not sure whether it is true, or does not really believe it: · When I started this investigation I was sceptical.· His attitude towards all religion is sceptical.sceptical about: · I wish him luck, but I'm skeptical about his chances of success.
someone who is cynical is not willing to believe that people have good or honest reasons for doing something: · I think movie stars just do charity work to get publicity - but maybe I'm too cynical.· an author with a cynical view of lifecynical about: · Since her divorce, she's become very cynical about men.
unable to believe something because it is so surprising that it seems impossible: · Everyone looked incredulous when I said I used to drive a taxi.· "A millionaire!" she was incredulous. "Like hell he is!"· The announcement was met by incredulous laughter.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He is highly sceptical of the reforms.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
tending to disagree with what other people tell you SYN doubtfulsceptical about/of He is highly sceptical of the reforms.· In the past, the medical profession has been deeply sceptical about the value of healing.· Now most of these teams have been disbanded, and many of those involved sound deeply sceptical.
· Nevertheless he remained highly sceptical of quantum theory.· Some well-informed practitioners are highly sceptical of the reliability of corporate betas based on historical data.· Some, like Faraday, were highly sceptical but prepared to try an experiment or two.· The Department of Health is understood to be highly sceptical.
· But many Christians have come to believe because they were more sceptical than most.· Professionals are often more sceptical and reluctant to respond to anonymous referrals - in the light of the above research this is potentially dangerous behaviour.· A more sceptical view on this issue may be found in Francis and Tharakan 1989.· However, others are more sceptical of the significance of merely more women in positions of influence in the state.· Other officials, especially those who observed the operation of the tribunals in the Low Country, were more sceptical.· Some architects are enthusiastic about the contribution their profession can make to the sustainable housing agenda274 while others are more sceptical.· Economists have tended to be more sceptical.
· I was very sceptical and, being almost entirely ignorant of the truths of Theosophy, thought Theosophists mad in their beliefs.· I remain very sceptical about whether people will ever use electronic forms to read novels.· The railway ghost caused a great stir in Darlington at the time but many were very sceptical about its bonafides.
NOUN· The sceptical argument therefore claims that you can not make sense of the idea of a subject of experience other than yourself.· It is in danger either of making knowledge impossible or of walking straight into one of our sceptical arguments.· So the argument we have now reached seems to be a complex defence of the first part of that first sceptical argument.· In the next section we shall consider three sceptical arguments which are strong enough to be worth taking seriously.· Hume's sceptical argument has been stated very schematically.· How then are we to find a conception of mental states other than that on which the sceptical argument trades?· First we need to look at some distinctions between types of sceptical argument.· The first and least important distinction is between local and global sceptical arguments.
I’m extremely sceptical about what I read in the press. Environmental groups are sceptical of the government’s claims.highly/deeply sceptical He is highly sceptical of the reforms. ‘You can trust me,’ he said. Jane looked sceptical.—sceptically /-kli/ adverb