Incredulous

Incredulous describes a state of disbelief or skepticism; a reluctance or inability to believe something. It signifies a lack of acceptance of something presented as true, often arising from surprise, unfamiliarity, or perceived absurdity. It can involve a questioning of another person's honesty or the validity of information received. The degree of incredulity can vary, ranging from mild skepticism to outright denial. It suggests a critical assessment of information, requiring more evidence or a clearer explanation before accepting something as fact. The word is frequently used when people find a claim difficult to believe, even if presented with some evidence, often indicating a struggle between what is perceived as possible and the presented reality.

Incredulous meaning with examples

• When Sarah announced she'd won the lottery, her family wore incredulous expressions. They struggled to comprehend the unbelievable news, scrutinizing the ticket for proof. It wasn't that they didn't want to believe it, it was simply too sudden. After several confirmations, their incredulity began to fade, replaced by pure, unadulterated joy and excitement. The initial disbelief was soon overshadowed by the prospect of their future winnings.
• The detective listened with an incredulous air as the suspect spun his elaborate alibi. He observed his tone of voice, the way he hesitated. He didn't want to be seen as biased, yet, the story sounded too improbable to be true. Despite his professional skepticism, he maintained a neutral face. Only after carefully examining all supporting facts, did he determine the suspect's credibility, and the story's validity.
• Upon learning about his grandfather's supposed past as a spy, Michael remained incredulous. He'd always known his grandfather as a quiet, gentle man. The whole idea was far outside his understanding of the family, and the details were hard to grasp. Even when shown photographic evidence, Michael maintained a cautious level of incredulity. It took several personal anecdotes from other relatives to lessen his skepticism.
• The audience’s silence indicated that they were all in a state of incredulity. The magician attempted to levitate a volunteer, but the trick didn’t quite work. The trick malfunctioned. He continued with the show, but the audience was not impressed. Their inability to believe that it was authentic, lead them all to remain unmoved. His following attempts to impress them were rejected, since all were watching for faults.
• After hearing his friend claim he had seen a UFO, Mark's reaction was immediately incredulous. He tried to stay open minded to his friend's account. But the events the friend told, defied all scientific explanations. Knowing his friend's adventurous nature, Mark suspected he had embellished the story. He gently pressed for more details to determine if there was an alternative explanation, or if the friend was simply exaggerating.