skeptic
skeptic
Definition
skep·tic (skep′tik)
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
- a member of any of the ancient Greek philosophical schools that denied the possibility of any certain knowledge
- a person who believes in or practices philosophical skepticism
- a person who habitually doubts, questions, or suspends judgment upon matters generally accepted
- a person who doubts religious doctrines
skeptic
Synonyms
skeptic
n.
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
- skep
- skene
- Skelton
- skelp
- skellum
- skeletonize
- skeleton key
- skeleton
- skein
- skeg
- skeptical
- skeptically
- skepticism
- skerry
- sketch
- sketchbook
- sketchily
- sketchy
- skew
- skew arch
