incredulous
UK: ɪnˈkredjʊləs | US: ɪnˈkredʒələs
adj. unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical.
adj. showing disbelief or doubt.
incredulous = in<not> + cred<ulous<believing>>
- in-: A prefix meaning "not" or "without," derived from Latin.
- cred-: Root from Latin credere, meaning "to believe."
- -ulous: Suffix meaning "inclined to" or "full of," from Latin -ulosus.
Etymology Origin:
The word "incredulous" traces back to Latin incredulus (in- "not" + credulus "believing"). It entered English in the 16th century, retaining its core sense of skepticism. The morpheme cred- appears in many English words (e.g., "credit," "credible"), reflecting its foundational role in concepts of belief. The suffix -ulous adds a descriptive quality, emphasizing a tendency or state (e.g., "credulous" vs. "incredulous").
She gave him an incredulous look when he claimed to have seen a ghost.
The audience was incredulous at the magician’s impossible trick.
His incredulous tone made it clear he doubted the story.
They were incredulous when told the project was completed in one day.
The scientist remained incredulous until the data was verified.