incredulity

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌɪnkrəˈduːləti/ UK /ˌɪnkrɪˈdjuːlɪti/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
disbelief or doubt about something

The news was met with incredulity by the public.
2

noun
a feeling of unbelieving surprise or astonishment

The magic trick was performed with such skill that it inspired incredulity in the audience.
3

noun
a refusal or reluctance to believe

She regarded his excuse with open incredulity.
4

noun
shocked disbelief, especially mixed with scorn

He stared at the claim with a mixture of incredulity and contempt.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · disbelief or doubt about... skepticism doubt uncertainty mistrust unbelief

2 noun · a feeling of unbelieving... astonishment amazementincredulousnessbewilderment

3 noun · a refusal or reluctance to... disinclination reluctance hesitation distrust

4 noun · shocked disbelief,... scorn disdain distrust dismissal contempt

Opposites

credulity belief trust

Etymology

From Latin in- ('not') + credere ('to believe'), forming incredulitas ('unbelief'); via Old French incredulité into Middle English incredulity ('skepticism', 14th c.) and Modern English incredulity ('disbelief; skepticism').

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# incredulity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪnkrəˈduːləti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪnkrɪˈdjuːlɪti/

## Meanings
1. disbelief or doubt about something
2. a feeling of unbelieving surprise or astonishment
3. a refusal or reluctance to believe
4. shocked disbelief, especially mixed with scorn

## Examples
- The news was met with incredulity by the public.
- The magic trick was performed with such skill that it inspired incredulity in the audience.
- She regarded his excuse with open incredulity.
- He stared at the claim with a mixture of incredulity and contempt.

## Synonyms
- skepticism
- doubt
- uncertainty
- mistrust
- unbelief
- astonishment
- amazement
- bewilderment
- scorn
- disdain
- contempt
- dismissal

## Antonyms
- credulity
- belief
- trust

## Etymology
From Latin in- ('not') + credere ('to believe'), forming incredulitas ('unbelief'); via Old French incredulité into Middle English incredulity ('skepticism', 14th c.) and Modern English incredulity ('disbelief; skepticism').

## AI Etymology
Incredulity comes from Latin in- ('not') + credere ('to believe'), forming incredulitas ('unbelief'); via Old French incredulité into Middle English incredulity ('skepticism', 14th c.) and Modern English incredulity ('disbelief; skepticism'). In current use it is a noun meaning "disbelief or doubt about something". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. As a result, the modern word is best read as a negative, privative, or reversative formation built on a historically older base.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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