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incredulously

adverb

/ɪnˈkrɛdʒ ə ləs li/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of incredulously

Characterized by disbelief or skepticism.
"The shopkeeper eyed the customer incredulously as he attempted to haggle for an absurdly low price."

Detailed meaning of incredulously

When someone responds incredulously, they do so in a manner that suggests they find what they have heard or witnessed hard to believe. It is often accompanied by facial expressions, tone of voice, or body language that conveys surprise, doubt, or astonishment. The adverb reflects a sense of skepticism or suspicion, indicating that the person is questioning the truthfulness or plausibility of something. Incredulously, individuals may raise an eyebrow, furrow their brow, or use a tone of voice that expresses astonishment or disbelief. It is an adverb that denotes an attitude of incredulity and invites further clarification or evidence to support the information or statement being discussed.

Example sentences containing incredulously

1. She looked at him incredulously, unable to comprehend his outrageous claim.
2. "You expect me to believe that?" she asked incredulously, her eyebrows raised in skepticism.
3. He incredulously questioned the validity of the so-called miracle cure.
4. The audience gasped incredulously as the magician made the rabbit disappear before their eyes.
5. "You're telling me you won the lottery?" he said incredulously, his voice filled with disbelief.
6. She shook her head incredulously, refusing to accept the absurdity of the situation.

History and etymology of incredulously

The adverb 'incredulously' is formed from the root 'incredulous,' which itself derives its etymology from Latin. It begins with the prefix 'in,' meaning 'not,' and is combined with 'credulus,' which translates to 'believing' or 'trusting.' 'Credulus' is derived from the Latin verb 'credere,' meaning 'to believe' or 'to trust.' Therefore, the etymology of 'incredulously' conveys the idea of behaving or reacting in a manner characterized by disbelief or skepticism. It describes how someone responds to information or statements with doubt and a lack of trust, often accompanied by a questioning or critical attitude towards the truth or authenticity of what they are hearing or witnessing.

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Further usage examples of incredulously

1. The detective stared incredulously at the suspect's alibi, finding it difficult to believe.
2. "You did what?" he exclaimed incredulously, astonished by his friend's reckless behavior.
3. The journalist raised an eyebrow incredulously at the politician's dubious explanation.
4. The professor gazed incredulously at the student's plagiarized paper, shocked by the blatant dishonesty.
5. "You honestly think that's a good idea?" she asked incredulously, concerned for his well-being.
6. She looked at him incredulously, unable to believe what she had just heard.
7. He shook his head incredulously, questioning the validity of the statement.
8. The audience gasped incredulously as the magician performed a seemingly impossible trick.
9. "You expect me to believe that?" she asked incredulously, raising an eyebrow.
10. The detective listened to the suspect's alibi incredulously, suspecting it to be a lie.
11. He stared at the astonishing sight before him incredulously, unable to comprehend what he was witnessing.
12. The teacher chuckled incredulously when the student claimed to have finished the entire book in one night.
13. "You won the lottery?" he exclaimed incredulously, unable to fathom his friend's good fortune.
14. She watched the unbelievable acrobatic performance incredulously, amazed by the performers' skills.
15. "You ate the entire pizza by yourself?" he asked incredulously, his eyes wide with surprise.
16. The news anchor reported the bizarre incident with an incredulous tone, struggling to believe it herself.
17. He read the outrageous conspiracy theory online, shaking his head incredulously at the sheer absurdity.
18. "You expect me to believe you're a time traveler?" she said incredulously, crossing her arms skeptically.
19. The child looked at the towering roller coaster incredulously, unsure if they had the courage to ride it.
20. The professor listened to the outlandish theory proposed by a student, raising an incredulous eyebrow.
21. "You forgot your own birthday?" he asked incredulously, unable to hide his astonishment.
22. She watched as the animal performed a remarkable trick, clapping her hands incredulously.
23. The jury members exchanged incredulous glances when they heard the defendant's outlandish excuse.
24. "You expect me to believe you saw a UFO?" he questioned incredulously, his skepticism evident.
25. She laughed incredulously when he claimed to have seen a unicorn in the backyard.