skepticism
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Skepticism \Skep"ti*cism\, n. [Cf. F. scepticisme.] [Written
also {scepticism}.]
1. An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty.
[1913 Webster]
That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and
confusion, which is the result of skepticism.
--Hune.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Metaph.) The doctrine that no fact or principle can be
certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is
uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that
no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be
established on philosophical grounds; critical
investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive
assumption or assertion of certain principles.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Theol.) A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a
denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or
of the being, perfections, or truth of God.
[1913 Webster]
Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt
whether this blessed prospect will be realized. --S.
Miller.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
46 Moby Thesaurus words for "skepticism":
Humism, Pyrrhonism, agnosticism, apprehension, caution,
cautiousness, concern, diffidence, disinclination to believe,
distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, doubtfulness, dubiety,
dubiousness, guardedness, half-belief, incertitude,
inconvincibility, incredulity, leeriness, misdoubt, misgiving,
mistrust, mistrustfulness, qualm, qualmishness, question,
resistiveness to belief, scoffing, scruple, scrupulousness,
self-doubt, shadow of doubt, skepticalness, suspicion,
suspiciousness, total skepticism, tough-mindedness, uncertainty,
unconvincibility, uncredulousness, unpersuadability,
unpersuasibility, wariness, wonder
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