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incredulous

adjective

/ɪnˈkrɛdjʊləs/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of incredulous

Skeptical or doubtful about something, often indicating a lack of belief or trust.
"The judge was incredulous at the defendant's outrageous claim."

Detailed meaning of incredulous

It is often used to describe a reaction to something that is hard to believe or that seems unlikely. For example, one might say that they are incredulous at a claim, meaning that they find it hard to believe and are skeptical of it. Similarly, one might say that they are incredulous at a person's behavior, meaning that they find it hard to believe that someone would act in that way. Incredulous can also be used to describe the feeling of being surprised or shocked by something. It can also be used to describe an expression on someone's face that shows they are skeptical or doubtful about something. In general, Incredulous refers to the state of being skeptical or doubtful about something, often indicating a lack of belief or trust in what is being said or presented, often used to describe a reaction to something that is hard to believe or that seems unlikely.

Example sentences containing incredulous

1. His incredulous expression suggested he didn't believe a word of my story.
2. I was incredulous when they told me I'd won the lottery.
3. The news was so surprising that even the normally calm teacher appeared incredulous.
4. Her incredulous laugh echoed through the room, making me feel self-conscious.
5. Despite the obvious evidence, the jury remained incredulous.
6. "You can't be serious!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with incredulous disbelief.

History and etymology of incredulous

The adjective 'incredulous' is rooted in Latin and carries the essence of skepticism and doubt. It can be traced back to the Latin word 'incredulus,' which is formed from 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'credere' meaning 'to believe' or 'to trust.' Therefore, 'incredulous' etymologically means 'not inclined to believe or trust.' When someone is described as incredulous, it suggests that they are skeptical or doubtful about something, often exhibiting a lack of belief or trust in the information or claims presented to them. This etymology aptly reflects the concept of doubt and skepticism inherent in the word 'incredulous,' highlighting its role in expressing a healthy dose of skepticism when confronted with extraordinary or questionable assertions.

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Further usage examples of incredulous

1. The scientist was incredulous when confronted with the controversial new theory.
2. She raised an incredulous eyebrow at his outrageous claim.
3. His statement was met with incredulous silence.
4. After hearing the unbelievable news, she wore an incredulous smile.
5. Her incredulous response made me second-guess my own account.
6. I stood, incredulous, as I watched my dog fetch the frisbee from the tree.
7. The detective was incredulous at the suspect's contradictory statement.
8. He looked at me with incredulous eyes when I told him I had never seen a movie before.
9. An incredulous whisper ran through the crowd as the magician revealed his final trick.
10. They responded to the sudden change of plan with incredulous complaints.
11. Her incredulous tone showed that she didn't trust the source of the information.
12. The veteran pilot was incredulous when the rookie outmaneuvered him in the simulation.
13. I'm incredulous that anyone could believe such an outrageous rumor.
14. The audience was incredulous, caught between laughter and disbelief, when the comedian took the stage in a chicken costume.