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incredulity

incredulity

7 8.1
A feeling of not believing something surprising
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈkrɛdʒʊlɪti/
translation icon : incredulidad
  • His tone was so casual that I shot a look of incredulity at him.
  • respond with incredulity

Big discoveries are protected by public incredulity.

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Examples

  • First, a look of perfect incredulity passed over her small face.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • In both cases, the contents of the charters were met with incredulity and outright hostility.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Yet, as it became clear that I had received all of the Court's opinion, my incredulity grew.

    Academic text (2001)
  • And when Al asked him with incredulity if he was going to dig it up himself, Charlie shuddered.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Amir gave him a look of incredulity and cracked up.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • - Do forgive our incredulity... ...but I wonder how you can be certain you've achieved transparency?

  • But our instinctive incredulity is something we should strive and struggle to overcome.

  • Yes, the incredulity on the face of this podcast host is warranted because that is pure and utter nonsense.

  • Not all of them share the attitude that Lyotard has suggested marks the postmodern: an incredulity toward meta-narratives.

    Academic text (1993)
  • When I told her my news, she looked at me with a look of incredulity.

Synonyms

skepticism
vsincredulity
  • US
124 5.1

A feeling of doubt about an idea or claim when there is not enough proof

refers to an immediate inability or unwillingness to believe something
disbelief
vsincredulity
86 3.0

A feeling when you do not think something is true

expresses inability or unwillingness to believe rather than mere lack of acceptance
state of disbelief
vsincredulity
1 4.9

Not able to believe something because it is shocking

is the single-word label for the same condition
mental rejection
vsincredulity
7.0

A state of not accepting an idea because you doubt it

implies inability or unwillingness to believe rather than an active refusal
doubtfulness
vsincredulity
5.5

A feeling of not being sure about something

implies strong refusal to believe rather than mild uncertainty
incertitude
vsincredulity
  • Formal
8.9

A feeling of not being sure or confident about something

expresses inability or unwillingness to believe rather than simple uncertainty

Antonyms

1.1

A feeling that something is true even without proof

1.4

Complete trust in a person, plan, or thing

How Certain

certainty
  • Literature
202 3.4
belief
1.1
uncertainty
296 4.0
doubt
1.6
skepticism
  • US
124 5.1
incredulity
7 8.1

Surface Forms

incredulity singular
incredulities plural

Morphology

incredulity = incredulous (semi-transparent) = in + cred + ulity

The transformation from 'incredulous' to 'incredulity' is clear, but the root 'cred' may not be immediately recognized as related to belief.

Etymology

The word incredulity comes from the parts in- meaning 'not' and cred- from Latin credere meaning 'to believe', the same root you see in credible and credit. So incredulity is the state of 'not believing' or strong doubt about something that seems unlikely.