skeptical
gb/skˈɛptɪkəl/ us/skˈɛptɪkəl/
B2
Anglais
szkeptikus
B2
1
szkeptikus
B2
Schéma d’usage :
skeptical about/of [something]; skeptical that [clause]
Many doctors were skeptical about the new treatment until larger studies were published.
Sok orvos szkeptikus volt az új kezeléssel kapcsolatban, amíg meg nem jelentek a nagyobb vizsgálatok.
Investors remain skeptical that the company can become profitable this year.
A befektetők továbbra is szkeptikusak azzal kapcsolatban, hogy a vállalat idén nyereségessé válhat.
She sounded skeptical of his explanation, but she agreed to check the facts.
Exemples pédagogiques
I am skeptical about the price because it seems too low.
Szkeptikus vagyok az árral kapcsolatban, mert túl alacsonynak tűnik.
He was skeptical that the plan would work.
Szkeptikus volt afelől, hogy a terv működni fog.
Erreur fréquente :
Use skeptical about or skeptical of. Skeptical to is uncommon in standard English.
Sens
Doubting a claim or outcome
Collocations
deeply skeptical
|highly skeptical
|understandably skeptical
|remain skeptical
|become skeptical
|skeptical about the plan
|skeptical of the claim
|skeptical that it will work
|a skeptical response
|a skeptical reaction
Synonymes
doubtful (more general and often slightly less critical)
|
unconvinced (emphasizes that evidence or arguments have not persuaded someone)
|
dubious (often suggests stronger doubt or suspicion)
Antonymes
convinced (sure that something is true or right)
|
confident (expecting something to be successful or true)
|
trusting (ready to believe or rely on someone or something)
Thèmes
thinking
|opinions
|communication
Définition
not sure that something is true or will happen
Not convinced that something is true, reliable, good, or likely to happen.
B2
2
szkeptikus
B2
Schéma d’usage :
a skeptical [person/audience/reader]; a skeptical attitude/approach
A skeptical reader will notice that the article gives no source for its main claim.
Egy szkeptikus olvasó észre fogja venni, hogy a cikk nem ad forrást a fő állításához.
Good scientists are skeptical, but they change their minds when the evidence is strong.
A jó tudósok szkeptikusak, de megváltoztatják a véleményüket, ha a bizonyítékok erősek.
The teacher encouraged students to take a skeptical approach to information they found online.
Exemples pédagogiques
Be skeptical when you read strange news online.
Légy szkeptikus, amikor furcsa híreket olvasol az interneten.
A skeptical person asks for proof.
Egy szkeptikus ember bizonyítékot kér.
Erreur fréquente :
Skeptical is not the same as cynical. A skeptical person asks for evidence; a cynical person often expects selfish or bad motives.
Sens
Inclined to question evidence
Collocations
skeptical reader
|skeptical audience
|skeptical mindset
|skeptical approach
|skeptical attitude
|skeptical scientist
|skeptical journalist
|skeptical scrutiny
|healthy skepticism
|professionally skeptical
Synonymes
questioning (emphasizes asking questions rather than doubting strongly)
|
critical (emphasizes careful evaluation, not necessarily negativity)
|
analytical (emphasizes logical examination rather than doubt)
Antonymes
credulous (too ready to believe things)
|
gullible (easily tricked because of believing too easily)
|
uncritical (accepting ideas without careful judgment)
Thèmes
critical_thinking
|science
|education
|media
Définition
careful about believing things without good evidence
Tending to question claims and require evidence before accepting them as true.
C2
TECHNICAL
3
szkeptikus
C1
Schéma d’usage :
skeptical philosophy/tradition/argument; skeptical about [knowledge/reason]
The seminar began with skeptical arguments about whether we can know anything about the external world.
A szeminárium szkeptikus érvekkel kezdődött arról, hogy tudhatunk-e bármit a külvilágról.
Descartes used skeptical doubt as a method for testing his beliefs.
Descartes a szkeptikus kételyt módszerként használta hiedelmei vizsgálatára.
Her paper examines skeptical challenges to religious and moral knowledge.
Exemples pédagogiques
The class discussed skeptical ideas in philosophy.
A filozóriaórán szkeptikus eszméket vitattak meg.
A skeptical argument questions what we can know.
A szkeptikus érv megkérdőjelezi, hogy mit tudhatunk.
Erreur fréquente :
This technical sense is much less common than the everyday meaning ‘doubtful’ or ‘not convinced.’
Sens
Questioning certain knowledge
Collocations
skeptical philosophy
|skeptical argument
|skeptical tradition
|skeptical challenge
|skeptical hypothesis
|skeptical doubt
|skeptical position
|skeptical problem
Synonymes
Pyrrhonian (refers specifically to an ancient form of philosophical skepticism)
|
epistemological (broader academic term relating to knowledge, not always involving doubt)
Antonymes
dogmatic (holding beliefs as certain without allowing doubt)
|
certain (expressing confidence rather than doubt)
Thèmes
philosophy
|knowledge
|academia
Définition
connected with the philosophical idea that we may not be able to know things with certainty
In philosophy, relating to the view that certain knowledge is impossible or that accepted beliefs should be doubted.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
skeptical
API
GB/skˈɛptɪkəl/
US/skˈɛptɪkəl/
Syllabes et accentuation
skep - tic - al (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (skep)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: skeptical
Expressions
call me skeptical, but...
1/kˈɔl mˈi skˈɛptɪkəl | bˈʌt |/
fixed phrase
informal
Introduce a doubtful opinion
used before you say that you do not believe something
Exemples
- Call me skeptical, but I don’t believe those numbers are accurate.
- Call me skeptical, but a plan with no budget and no deadline is not much of a plan.
- Call me skeptical, but I’ve heard that promise before.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Call me skeptical, but I do not trust that story.
- Call me skeptical, but this seems too easy.
color me skeptical
1/kˈʌlɚ mˈi skˈɛptɪkəl/
idiom
informal
I doubt that claim
used to say that you do not really believe something
Exemples
- Color me skeptical, but I don’t think the app will really save us that much time.
- He says the project will be finished by Friday? Color me skeptical.
- Color me skeptical, but the deal sounds too good to be true.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Color me skeptical, but I think he is wrong.
- She promised to pay tomorrow. Color me skeptical.
with a skeptical eye
1/wˈɪθ ə skˈɛptɪkəl ˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
Examine critically and doubtfully
to examine something carefully because you are not sure it is true or good
Exemples
- Experts are viewing the mayor’s budget promise with a skeptical eye.
- She reads all product reviews with a skeptical eye because many are paid promotions.
- The committee examined the proposal with a skeptical eye before approving it.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I look at online ads with a skeptical eye.
- Read the report with a skeptical eye.