incredulous

/ɪnˈkɹɛdjʊləs/

Group 2Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(adjective)
Unwilling or unable to believe something
GRE

Example in Context

Colleagues were incredulous when the junior researcher announced findings that contradicted a theory the department had supported for decades.

Synonyms

disbelievingskepticaldoubtful

Etymology

Unwilling to believe; skeptical.

  • in- (Latin) — not
  • credere (Latin) — to believe

Memory Aid

😲Sounds like “incredulous sounds like 'in-credible'

Imagine someone hearing a wild story and exclaiming 'That's IN-CREDULOUS!' while rolling their eyes!

Visual Association

🙄A person with wide eyes and a raised eyebrow, staring at a friend who just claimed they can fly.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “incredulous” mean on the GRE?

incredulous (adjective) means “Unwilling or unable to believe something”. Colleagues were incredulous when the junior researcher announced findings that contradicted a theory the department had supported for decades.

How to remember “incredulous” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “incredulous” sounds like “incredulous sounds like 'in-credible'”. Imagine someone hearing a wild story and exclaiming 'That's IN-CREDULOUS!' while rolling their eyes!

What are synonyms for “incredulous”?

Common synonyms: disbelieving, skeptical, doubtful.