skeptical
- Inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions, claims, or facts rather than accepting them without evidence.
In a sentence
- Many scientists remain skeptical about the study's conclusions until the results can be replicated.
- She was skeptical of the salesman's promises and decided to research the product herself.
Usage note. In British English the spelling is typically 'sceptical' with a 'c,' while 'skeptical' is standard in American English; both are correct in their respective varieties.
Where it comes from
English skeptical · entered English 17th c.
From Latin 'scepticus' and Greek 'skeptikos,' meaning 'inquiring' or 'reflective,' derived from 'skeptesthai' (to look, examine, consider). It refers historically to followers of Pyrrho who doubted the possibility of certain knowledge. The word entered English in the 17th century.