incredulity

English

Etymology

Attested since 1430. From Old French incredulité, from Latin incredulitas, from incredulus (“unbelieving”) + -itas (“-ity”)

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˌɪn.kɹəˈdjuːl.ɪ.ti/, SAMPA: /%In.kr\@"djuLl.I.ti/

Noun

incredulity (uncountable)

1. Unwillingness or inability to believe; doubt about the truth or verisimilitude of something; disbelief.
   • 1916, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar, ch. 24:

     Wide went her eyes in wonder and incredulity, as she beheld this seeming apparition risen from the dead.

2. (rare) Religious disbelief, lack of faith.

Synonyms

• incredulousness

Antonyms

• credulity

Related terms

• incredibility
• incredulous

Translations

unwillingness to believe; doubt about the truth of something

Dutch: ongeloof (nl) n. Finnish: epäusko (fi), epäilys (fi) French: incrédulité (fr) German: Ungläubigkeit (de) f.

Romanian: incredulitate (ro) f., scepticism (ro) n. Spanish: incredulidad (es) f. Swedish: misstrogenhet (sv) c.

religious disbelief

Dutch: ongelovigheid French: incrédulité German: Ungläubigkeit (de) f.

Romanian: necredință (ro) f. Spanish: incredulidad (es) f.