'Skepticism' definitions:
Definition of 'skepticism'
From: WordNet
noun
noun
The disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge [syn: agnosticism, skepticism, scepticism]
Definition of 'Skepticism'
From: GCIDE
- Skepticism \Skep"ti*cism\, n. [Cf. F. scepticisme.] [Written also scepticism.]
- 1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty. [1913 Webster]
- That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and confusion, which is the result of skepticism. --Hune. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Metaph.) The doctrine that no fact or principle can be certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be established on philosophical grounds; critical investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive assumption or assertion of certain principles. [1913 Webster]
- 3. (Theol.) A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or of the being, perfections, or truth of God. [1913 Webster]
- Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt whether this blessed prospect will be realized. --S. Miller. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'skepticism'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- agnosticism,
- apprehension,
- caution,
- cautiousness,
- concern,
- diffidence,
- disinclination to believe,
- distrust,
- distrustfulness,
- doubt,
- doubtfulness,
- dubiety,
- dubiousness,
- guardedness,
- half-belief,
- Humism,
- incertitude,
- inconvincibility,
- incredulity,
- leeriness,
- misdoubt,
- misgiving,
- mistrust,
- mistrustfulness,
- Pyrrhonism,
- qualm,
- qualmishness,
- question,
- resistiveness to belief,
- scoffing,
- scruple,
- scrupulousness,
- self-doubt,
- shadow of doubt,
- skepticalness,
- suspicion,
- suspiciousness,
- total skepticism,
- tough-mindedness,
- uncertainty,
- unconvincibility,
- uncredulousness,
- unpersuadability,
- unpersuasibility,
- wariness,
- wonder