sceptic

sceptic — noun

1. a person who questions claims, ideas, or beliefs that are widely accepted, prefe

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who questions claims, ideas, or beliefs that are widely accepted, preferring to see convincing evidence before being persuaded

Example

Amelia remained a sceptic about the health claims until she saw the lab results.

sceptic + about + noun phrase

Despite the hype, many sceptics questioned whether the new device actually helped students learn.

Common collocations
  • healthy sceptic
  • avowed sceptic
  • sceptic about
  • sceptic at heart
  • lifelong sceptic
Synonyms
  • doubter

    a more neutral, less formal word; often appears in religious contexts ('doubting Thomas')

  • cynic

    stronger and more negative; a cynic assumes people act out of selfish motives, whereas a sceptic simply wants proof

  • agnostic

    narrower scope; specifically describes someone who believes the existence of God cannot be known

Antonyms
  • believer

    someone who accepts claims or ideas without requiring proof

  • optimist

    someone who tends to expect the best possible outcome, often without questioning

Grammar Patterns

sceptic + about + noun phrase

Usage Note

This British English spelling uses 'c' (sceptic, sceptical, scepticism). The American English equivalent uses 'k' (skeptic, skeptical, skepticism). Both spellings are standard in their respective varieties.

Common Mistakes

He never believes anyone — he's such a sceptic.
He never believes anyone
he's such a cynic.' — A sceptic questions claims and asks for evidence; a cynic assumes people are motivated by selfishness.

Word family

  • sceptical
    adjectiveB2
  • sceptically
    adverbC1
  • scepticism
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Sceptic, cynic, doubter, and agnostic all describe people who are not quick to accept something, but their attitudes differ. A sceptic questions claims and asks for evidence before believing — the stance of a careful thinker. A cynic goes further: they assume people are selfishly motivated and that claims are probably false, giving the word a negative emotional tone. A doubter is more neutral and less formal; it often appears in religious contexts ('doubting Thomas'). An agnostic has a narrower scope, referring specifically to someone who believes the existence of God cannot be known. For example, a sceptic might ask for climate data before accepting a report, while a cynic might dismiss the report as political spin. A doubter might simply say 'I'm not sure.'

cynicdoubteragnostic

Common collocations

Phrases

  • healthy sceptic
  • sceptic at heart
  • avowed sceptic

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Sceptic comes from the Greek word skeptikos, meaning 'thoughtful' or 'inquiring'. It entered English through Latin (scepticus) and French (sceptique). The original Greek Skeptikoi were followers of Pyrrho, a philosopher who taught that certain knowledge is impossible — so the word has always carried the sense of questioning and examining rather than accepting.