skepticism

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈskɛptɪˌsɪzəm/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A doubting or questioning attitude or state of mind; incredulity; doubt about the truth or validity of something.; The philosophical doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain or impossible; the theory that certain knowledge is unattainable.; A method of suspended judgment or systematic doubt employed in philosophical inquiry, especially as practiced by the Pyrrhonists.; A habitual disposition to question or doubt accepted opinions, claims, or beliefs, especially in scientific or critical thinking contexts.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

healthy skepticismexpress skepticismview with skepticismtreat with skepticismdeep skepticismwidespread skepticism

Derivatives

skepticskepticalskepticallyscepticismscepticsceptical

Synonyms

doubtincredulitydistrustsuspicioncynicism

Antonyms

belieftrustfaithcredulity

Commonly confused

cynicism
EN: 'Cynicism' implies a general distrust of people's motives and sincerity; 'skepticism' is a questioning attitude that demands evidence before accepting claims.
scepticism
EN: 'Scepticism' is simply the British English spelling of the same word; 'skepticism' is the American English spelling.

Spelling tips

EN: American English uses 'skepticism' (with 'k'), while British English uses 'scepticism' (with 'c'). Be consistent with whichever variety you are writing in.

💬 Examples

  1. The public greeted the politician's promises with considerable skepticism.

  2. Ancient Greek skepticism challenged the possibility of attaining absolute certainty in any domain of inquiry.

  3. Pyrrhonian skepticism advocates the suspension of judgment on all non-evident matters to achieve mental tranquility.

  4. Scientific skepticism requires that extraordinary claims be supported by extraordinary evidence.