skepticism implies unwillingness to believe without conclusive evidence.
an economic forecast greeted with skepticism
suspicion stresses lack of faith in the truth, reality, fairness, or reliability of something or someone.
regarded the stranger with suspicion
mistrust implies a genuine doubt based upon suspicion.
had a great mistrust of doctors
Example Sentences
Verb I have always doubted the existence of life on other planets. No one doubts that the mission will be a success. I seriously doubt my parents will let me go. “Do you think you can come tonight?” “I doubt it.” She doubted his ability to succeed. He said he could do it, but I couldn't help doubting him. Noun I still have moments of doubt. There can be little doubt that smoking is bad for your health. I had a nagging doubt in the back of my mind. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Pisani doesn’t doubt that her father would stay true to that promise. Emma Healy, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Arians, who moved to a Bucs consultant role in March after retiring, wouldn’t doubt it. Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2022 Offensive coordinator Ben Kleinhans does not doubt it. Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2022 Investors doubt Sri Lanka will be able to make the July payment, with the bond trading well below face value at $0.54 to the dollar on Thursday. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2022 Economists generally doubt the participation rate will get back to its old level in the years ahead since an aging population will over time keep putting more people in retirement. Justin Lahart, WSJ, 8 Oct. 2021 Although there is still plenty to figure out ahead of the 2022-23 season, there is no reason to doubt the Lightning’s ability to be a postseason contender. Tyler Small, Forbes, 28 June 2022 There's reason to doubt the optimistic scenario, though. Samuel Goldman, The Week, 11 May 2022 Still, employers are seeing fresh reason to doubt the viability of their RTO guidelines. Matthew Boyle, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2022
Noun
Executives at the company have continued to cast doubt on the election. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Expert witnesses from the state cast doubt on that assessment, saying death by either method was rapid. Derek Hawkins, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Sosa has cast doubt on the legitimacy of those tests. Nate Rattner, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 The stalwarts No one can cast doubt on the wise lyricism, strong rhythmic interplay and hitmaking abilities of rappers Pusha T and Kodak Black. Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2022 Yet the bureau forged ahead, convening an August 2020 briefing for members of Congress that was designed to cast doubt on the Biden evidence. The Editors, National Review, 31 Aug. 2022 Bolsonaro, who is behind Lula in opinion polls, has repeatedly cast doubt on the country’s electoral process and criticized in particular the use of electronic ballots – a system that has been in place in 2000. Camilo Rocha, CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 Biden himself cast doubt on his Oval Office authority related to student loan debt handouts when he was asked about his plans in a 2021 CNN Town Hall. Brianna Herlihy, Fox News, 27 Aug. 2022 Their huge self reported volume and tiny visitor number cast doubt on the possibility that a limited audience could indeed generate that much trading activity. Javier Paz, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English douten, from Anglo-French duter, douter, from Latin dubitare to be in doubt; akin to Latin dubius dubious