Dictionary
incredulous
adjective in·cred·u·lous \(ˌ)in-ˈkre-jə-ləs, -dyə-ləs\
: not able or willing to believe something : feeling or showing a lack of belief
Full Definition of INCREDULOUS
2
: incredible 1
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See incredulous defined for kids
Usage Discussion of INCREDULOUS
Sense 2 was revived in the 20th century after a couple of centuries of disuse. Although it is a sense with good literary precedent—among others Shakespeare used it—many people think it is a result of confusion with incredible, which is still the usual word in this sense.
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Examples of INCREDULOUS
- “Afraid not.” I made an expression to show that I was as incredulous about this as he was. —Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
- A tweed-encased fogey, he's allergic to technology, persnickety about language, and incredulous that anyone could object to his incessant smoking. —John Powers, Vogue, March 1998
- He was greeted with incredulous laughter. —Robert M. Hutchins, Center Magazine,, September 1968
- … no obstacle, no incredulous or unsafe circumstance … —William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, 1602
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Origin of INCREDULOUS
Latin incredulus, from in- + credulus credulous
First Known Use: 1579
Related to INCREDULOUS
- Synonyms
- disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, skeptical, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving
- Antonyms
- credulous, gullible (also gullable), trustful, trusting, uncritical, unquestioning
INCREDULOUSLY Defined for Kids
incredulous
adjective in·cred·u·lous \in-ˈkre-jə-ləs\
Definition of INCREDULOUS for Kids
: feeling or showing disbelief
— in·cred·u·lous·ly adverb
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