skeptic Hear it!

skeptic Definition

skep·tic (skeptik)

adjective

skeptical: used esp. in philosophy

Etymology: L scepticus < Gr skeptikos, thoughtful, inquiring < skeptesthai, to consider: altered by metathesis < IE base *spe-, to peer > spy

noun

  1. a member of any of the ancient Greek philosophical schools that denied the possibility of any certain knowledge
  2. a person who believes in or practices philosophical skepticism
  3. a person who habitually doubts, questions, or suspends judgment upon matters generally accepted
  4. a person who doubts religious doctrines

skeptic Synonyms

skeptic

n.

doubter, unbeliever, cynic, questioner, infidel, heathen, freethinker, atheist, deist, agnostic, heretic, disbeliever, Pyrrhonist, pagan, anti-Christian, dissenter, latitudinarian, misbeliever, rationalist, profaner, materialist, positivist, nihilist, somatist, scoffer, apostate, blasphemer; see also cynic.

skeptic Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • convince: And he always tries to make his case with modesty and thoughtfulness, the best way to convince a skeptic.
  • answer: These are some of the papers I've written in the past few years for some college courses and also to answer skeptics.
  • outlive: Continue to compete in the united in las vegas outlived the skeptics.
  • become: Nickell notes the fact that few scientists with the requisite skills have examined the cloth ( generally, those who did became skeptics ).
  • confirm: I came to Auschwitz as a confirmed skeptic about the gas chamber story.
  • hear: Each of us have heard the skeptics mocking challenge, " Can God make a rock He cannot lift?

Converse of subject

  • solve: The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities.

Adjective modifier

  • Australian: The latest book on Uri Geller was written by Australian Skeptics magic consultant, Ben Harris.
  • other: Wendy was second, and I was the other skeptic used.
  • ardent: The apparent size and duration should impress even an ardent skeptic.
  • scientific: The scientific skeptic will not accept anything without evidence.
  • religious: He mentions Peregrinus, whose history was described by Lucian, a Roman religious skeptic.
  • Many: Many skeptics are false, so therefore ALL skeptics are false eh?

Modifies a noun

  • movement: This needless arguments are typical of what has happened to the 9/11 skeptics movement.
  • cannot: As a true skeptic I cannot say what is going on but I can say that something is going on.

Noun used with modifier

  • climate: It is nice to get the last word in a scrap with the climate skeptics.

Possessives

  • argument: The book itself is a testament to just how shaky the skeptics ' argument really is... .
  • claim: Contrary to skeptics ' claims, she does not weigh the evidence in light of the two opposing hypotheses.

Preposition: of

  • levitation: Skeptics of levitation have come up with several theories as to its cause including hallucination, hypnosis, or fraud.
  • religion: You are a skeptic of religion, particulary Christianity.

Browse dictionary entries near skeptic

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  2. skene
  3. Skelton
  4. skelp
  5. skellum
  6. skeletonize
  7. skeleton key
  8. skeleton
  9. skein
  10. skeg
  1. skeptical
  2. skeptically
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  4. skerry
  5. sketch
  6. sketchbook
  7. sketchily
  8. sketchy
  9. skew
  10. skew arch