Incredulous Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Published on December 23, 2025
Incredulous describes someone who is unable or unwilling to believe something. e.g., She gave him an incredulous look when he announced he was quitting.
Table of Contents
Incredulous Definitions
Expressing disbelief through one’s attitude or behavior.
The jury watched her testimony with an incredulous air.
Indicative of someone questioning the reality of an event.
Her incredulous stare was met with nods of confirmation.
Finding it difficult to trust or rely on something doubtful.
He was incredulous about the promises made by the politicians.
Showing disbelief or doubt about something.
Her incredulous expression made him repeat his statement.
Having a hard time believing something unexpected or shocking.
They were incredulous that they had won the lottery.
Doubting the truth of a seemingly absurd statement.
She was incredulous when he claimed to have invented a new device.
Skeptical or disbelieving.
He was incredulous at the news of the sudden merger.
Unwilling to accept or admit what is offered as true.
He remained incredulous despite the evidence.
Marked by incredulity; showing a lack of belief.
His incredulous questions challenged the speaker's credibility.
Questioning or disbelief in the face of norms or expectations.
They exchanged incredulous glances when told the old rule was still in effect.
Skeptical; disbelieving
Incredulous of stories about flying saucers.
Expressive of disbelief
An incredulous stare.
Skeptical, disbelieving, or unable to believe.
Expressing or indicative of incredulity.
Difficult to believe; incredible.
Not credulous; indisposed to admit or accept that which is related as true, skeptical; unbelieving.
A fantastical incredulous fool.
Indicating, or caused by, disbelief or incredulity.
Incredible; not easy to be believed.
Not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
Incredulous Snonyms
Disbelieving
Not believing; unable to accept something as true.
He gave a disbelieving laugh at the suggestion.
Suspicious
Having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something.
He was suspicious of the deal, feeling it was too good to be true.
Doubtful
Full of doubt; not certain or convinced.
She was doubtful that the plan would work.
Skeptical
Doubting the truth or reliability of something.
She remained skeptical of the claims made in the advertisement.
Unconvinced
Not persuaded or assured by an argument or explanation.
The audience was largely unconvinced by his speech.
Questioning
Expressing or feeling uncertainty or lack of conviction.
His questioning attitude often led to deep discussions.
Leery
Cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions.
She was leery of agreeing without reading the fine print.
Wary
Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
They were wary of making an investment without more information.
Cynical
Distrusting or disparaging the motives of others.
Her cynical view of politics made her wary of any new political figure.
Distrustful
Unable to trust; suspicious of others' intentions.
He was distrustful of the stranger's overly friendly demeanor.
Incredulous Idioms & Phrases
An incredulous look
A facial expression showing disbelief.
He received an incredulous look from the audience after his mistake.
An incredulous stare
Staring in disbelief.
His claim earned him an incredulous stare from everyone in the room.
Feel incredulous
To feel disbelief or skepticism.
I felt incredulous at the news of his return.
Look incredulous
To appear doubtful or disbelieving.
He looked incredulous at the suggestion that he had forgotten the date.
An incredulous laugh
Laughing as if in disbelief.
She let out an incredulous laugh when she saw the absurd outfit.
Remain incredulous
To continue disbelieving something.
She remained incredulous even as the facts were laid out before her.
Sound incredulous
To speak in a tone that conveys disbelief.
His voice sounded incredulous when he answered the phone.
Incredulous tone of voice
A way of speaking that indicates disbelief.
She spoke with an incredulous tone when questioning their motives.
An incredulous question
A question that shows disbelief.
He asked an incredulous question about the project's unrealistic deadlines.
With an incredulous expression
Displaying disbelief through one's facial expression.
With an incredulous expression, she asked if he was serious.
Incredulous eyes
Eyes that show disbelief or skepticism.
Her incredulous eyes scanned the unbelievable scene.
Incredulous Example Sentences
His story left us all feeling somewhat incredulous.
His incredulous smile made her repeat the news.
She raised an incredulous eyebrow at the suggestion.
They were incredulous of the claim.
She was incredulous at the turn of events.
He greeted the idea with incredulous laughter.
They watched in incredulous silence.
She shook her head in incredulous amazement.
Her incredulous questions made everyone rethink.
He was incredulous that no one had informed him earlier.
He looked at her incredulously as she explained.
They were incredulous when they heard the cost.
The audience was visibly incredulous during the presentation.
Her incredulous tone suggested she did not believe a word.
The teacher was incredulous at the excuse he offered.
Common Curiosities
How is incredulous used in a sentence?
"Incredulous" is used as an adjective to describe disbelief or skepticism, e.g., He gave her an incredulous look when she mentioned seeing a UFO.
How many syllables are in incredulous?
There are four syllables in "incredulous".
What is a stressed syllable in incredulous?
The stressed syllable in "incredulous" is the second syllable: 'cred'.
What is another term for incredulous?
Another term for "incredulous" could be "skeptical".
Why is it called incredulous?
It's called "incredulous" from the Latin 'incredulus', meaning "not believing", reflecting disbelief or skepticism.
What is the verb form of incredulous?
"Incredulous" does not have a verb form; it is an adjective.
What is the root word of incredulous?
The root word of "incredulous" is the Latin word "credere", meaning to believe, with the prefix "in-" indicating negation.
How do we divide incredulous into syllables?
We divide "incredulous" into syllables like this: in-cred-u-lous.
What is the pronunciation of incredulous?
"Incredulous" is pronounced as /ɪnˈkrɛdjʊləs/.
Is incredulous an adverb?
No, "incredulous" is not an adverb; it is an adjective.
What is the opposite of incredulous?
The opposite of "incredulous" could be "credulous", meaning too ready to believe things.
Is incredulous a countable noun?
"Incredulous" is not a noun; it is an adjective.
Is incredulous a collective noun?
No, "incredulous" is an adjective, not a noun.
What part of speech is incredulous?
"Incredulous" is an adjective.
What is the singular form of incredulous?
The singular form of "incredulous" remains "incredulous".
Is incredulous a noun or adjective?
"Incredulous" is an adjective.
Is incredulous a negative or positive word?
"Incredulous" is generally considered a neutral word, though it can have negative connotations if it implies excessive skepticism.
Is the incredulous term a metaphor?
"Incredulous" can be used metaphorically to describe someone's reaction as though they find it hard to believe.
Is the word “incredulous” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Incredulous" is an adjective and does not function as an object.
Which vowel is used before incredulous?
The use of a vowel before "incredulous" depends on the context; it often occurs with "an" because it starts with a vowel sound.
Which preposition is used with incredulous?
Common prepositions used with "incredulous" include "at" and "about", as in "incredulous at the news" or "incredulous about the claims."
Which article is used with incredulous?
The article "an" is commonly used when referring to an instance of incredulity, e.g., "She gave him an incredulous look."
Is incredulous an abstract noun?
No, "incredulous" is not a noun; it is an adjective.
Is incredulous a vowel or consonant?
The word "incredulous" starts with a vowel.
Is the word incredulous imperative?
No, "incredulous" cannot be imperative as it is not a verb.
Which determiner is used with incredulous?
Determiners such as "an" or "the" can be used with "incredulous", depending on the context, e.g., "an incredulous look".
What is the plural form of incredulous?
The adjective "incredulous" does not have a plural form; it is used the same way for singular and plural contexts.
Is the word incredulous Gerund?
No, "incredulous" is not a gerund; it is an adjective.
Which conjunction is used with incredulous?
Conjunctions used with "incredulous" depend on sentence structure, not the word itself.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
