Incredulous Definition & Meaning

  • American
  • British
  • Related Words
  • Other Word Forms
  • Etymology
  • Examples
  • Related Words
  • Synonyms incredulous American [in-krej-uh-luhs] / ɪnˈkrɛdʒ ə ləs /

    adjective

    1. not credulous; disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical

    2. indicating or showing unbelief.

      an incredulous smile.

    incredulous British / ɪnˈkrɛdjʊləs /

    adjective

    1. (often foll by of) not prepared or willing to believe (something); unbelieving

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Related Words

    See doubtful.

    Other Word Forms

    • incredulously adverb
    • incredulousness noun

    Etymology

    Origin of incredulous

    From the Latin word incrēdulus, dating back to 1525–35; in- 3, credulous

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    She said Mr Mitchell's family were "incredulous" when they learned his body had not been cremated.

    From BBC

    His own father was so incredulous that a coach like Harbaugh considered Simpson to be a legitimate quarterback prospect that he asked the Michigan coach to explain his interest.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    The post drew 1.4 million views—and a flurry of incredulous comments.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    “An apartment in Saint Petersburg?” he said to his wife, incredulous.

    From Literature

    He walked around the Las Vegas casino incredulous at the spectacle before him: seven thousand people, all of whom seemed delighted with the world as they found it.

    From Literature

    Related Words

    • doubtful
    • hesitant
    • quizzical
    • skeptical
    • suspicious
    • unconvinced
    • unsatisfied

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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