# skeptical

/ˈskɛptəkəɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/skeptical
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. doubting or questioning

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English

doubting that something is true or useful.

For teachers: inclined to doubt or question claims; expressing a lack of belief in the validity of a statement or theory.

- Many people are skeptical about the new law and don't think it will work.
- The board remained skeptical of the CEO's ambitious projections, demanding more concrete data before approving the expansion.

Usage: Commonly followed by the prepositions 'of' or 'about'.

### 2. philosophical skepticism

adjective · CEFR C1 · American English · Academic

relating to the philosophical idea that we cannot know anything for certain.

For teachers: relating to the philosophical school of thought that questions the possibility of absolute knowledge or certainty.

- The professor discussed the skeptical tradition in ancient Greek philosophy.
- His skeptical approach to epistemology suggests that human sensory perception is inherently unreliable for determining objective truth.

## Examples

- I am skeptical about his promise to finish the work today.
- Many scientists remain skeptical of the new study until the results can be repeated in other labs.
- While the marketing team was enthusiastic about the rebranding, the board remained skeptical, demanding more data on how existing customers would perceive the change in identity.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.