scepticism
Habitual intellectual doubt
Scepticism is the British spelling of skepticism, denoting a disposition to question claims or withhold belief until sufficient evidence is provided.
In philosophy, scepticism refers to doctrines that challenge the possibility of certain knowledge.
In everyday use, it describes a healthy wariness toward assertions that lack proof: Her scepticism about miracle cures kept her from wasting money.
The word often carries positive connotations of critical thinking rather than mere cynicism.
State of being unsure
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- mistrustLack of faith
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
ambivalence · reservation · wariness · misgiving · qualm · incredulity · dubiousness · questioning
Understood facts and skills
- truthAccordance with reality
- beliefTrust held as true
- proofDemonstration of truth
- justificationReason proving rightness
certainty · uncertainty · empiricism · rationalism · verification · falsifiability · evidence · epistemological
Of x-y coordinate geometry
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
secularism · positivism · naturalism · materialism · atheism · humanism · Enlightenment · pragmatism
Seeking answers through inquiry
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
evaluation · probing · research · fact-checking · verification · cross-examination · interrogation · assessment
Expecting unfavorable outcomes
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- misanthropyHatred of humankind
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
jaded · world-weary · disenchanted · defeatist · scornful · contempt · disdain · derision
Denial of acceptance
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- repudiationFormal refusal to accept
- disavowalRejection of connection
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
scoffing · debunking · discrediting · refutation · naysaying · contrarian · dissent · objection
uncertainty
State of being unsure
hesitation · ambivalence · reservation · wariness · misgiving · qualm · incredulity · dubiousness · questioning · reluctance
knowledge
Understood facts and skills
justification · certainty · uncertainty · empiricism · rationalism · verification · falsifiability · evidence · epistemological · solipsism
Cartesian
Of x-y coordinate geometry
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
freethought · secularism · positivism · naturalism · materialism · atheism · humanism · Enlightenment · pragmatism · relativism
questioning
Seeking answers through inquiry
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- investigationFormal examination of facts
scrutiny · evaluation · probing · research · fact-checking · verification · cross-examination · interrogation · assessment · review
pessimism
Expecting unfavorable outcomes
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- misanthropyHatred of humankind
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
disillusionment · jaded · world-weary · disenchanted · defeatist · scornful · contempt · disdain · derision · mockery
rejection
Denial of acceptance
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- repudiationFormal refusal to accept
- disavowalRejection of connection
ridicule · scoffing · debunking · discrediting · refutation · naysaying · contrarian · dissent · objection · rebuttal
scepticismcredulity
Uncritical acceptance of claims
belief · gullibility · faith · conviction · credulousness
scepticismtrust
Confidence in another
faith · reliance · trustfulness · confidence · credulousness
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