It is a normal thing to be concerned about writing well, but you need to take the appropriate steps to ensure you do. By getting an extensive knowledge of a word, you will use the word correctly in your sentences. So, I guess you are wondering how to use the word “incredulous” in a sentence.
The word “incredulous” functions as an adjective in a sentence and it refers to the manner of being unwilling or unable to believe or accept something as true. An example of the use of the word “incredulous” is: The brutality in the Caribbean islands sounds incredulous to modern readers.
While you might think the use of this word looks pretty easy, you still need to learn a lot before you can use it correctly. We intend to provide a detailed explanation of this word. So, you have nothing to worry about, this article covers everything about the word.
What Does The Word “Incredulous” Mean?
You should learn everything about a word before you start using it. By failing to do so, you will misuse the word, communicate poorly, and make the reading process of your writing very difficult.
For you to communicate excellently and make your writing easy to read and comprehend, you must understand the meaning, the origin, the nature, the synonyms, and the antonyms of the word “incredulous.” This is the guarantee you have to use it correctly.
Before diving into the meaning of the word “incredulous,” let us look into its origin.
The word “incredulous” is coined out of the Latin word “incrēdulus” (meaning to be unbelieving) in the 1570s, got from Old Latin “in-credulus.”
We have made you aware of where the word “incredulous” is gotten from, we will find out the meaning now.
The word “incredulous” is used to describe when a person finds it difficult to believe something because it is very shocking or surprising. It also refers to showing a lack of ability to believe something as true.
It means to express a manner of disbelief, showing doubt and skepticism. It also means a feeling that something is hard to believe or accept. It describes the feeling that you cannot believe something because it is wrong.
The word “incredulous” refers to the feeling of being disinclined or indisposed to believe, it also means not credulous. Also means to demonstrate a state of being incredulous.
When we talk about the synonyms of a word, we are referring to words or phrases with a similar meaning to the word in focus.
The synonyms of the word “incredulous” are:
- Doubting
- Disbelieving
- Skeptical
- Unconvinced
- Distrustful
- Doubtful
- Uncertain
- Hesitant
- Quizzical
- Suspicious
- Wary
- Unsatisfied
- Chary
- Cynical
- Mistrusting
- Dubious
- Questioning
- Agonistic
- Paranoid
- Puzzled
- Unconvinced
- Undecided
- Leery
- Negativistic
- Suspecting
- Cautious
While the antonyms of a word refer to words and phrases with an opposite meaning to the word in focus.
The antonyms of the word “incredulous” are:
- Credulous
- Trustful
- Believing
- Credible
- Trusting
- Naïve
- Gullible
- Unsuspecting
- Unquestioning
- Certain
- Definite
- Convinced
- Guileless
- Callow
- Uncynical
- Incognizant
- Unquestionable
- Incautious
- Sure
- Free From Doubt
- Trusty
- Wide-eyed
- Unwary
- Simple
- Ingenuous
- Susceptible
- Uncritical
On the other hand, the nature of a word refers to the form that the word takes, in this case, we are talking about the form “incredulous” takes in a sentence. We refer to the role it plays in a sentence. The part of speech the word “incredulous” falls under is the form it takes.
When you use the word “incredulous” in a sentence, it functions as an adjective and it qualifies or modifies a noun in the sentence. That is, it provides a description of the subject or object in a sentence.
Having this knowledge in mind makes it very easy for you to understand how to properly use a word in a sentence.
How To Properly Use “Incredulous” In A Sentence
With the understanding of the origin, the meaning, the synonyms, the antonyms, and the nature of the word “incredulous,” it is easier to know how to correctly use it in a sentence.
You use the word “incredulous” when you are finding it difficult or not willing to believe something. The word is used when you find something to be wrong or a lie hence the reason you do not believe it.
You cannot use “incredulous” and “incredible” interchangeably because they have entirely different meanings. “Incredulous” describes the feeling you have when you cannot believe something because it looks false, while “incredible” describes something you cannot believe because it is too extraordinary, amazing, and improbable to be possible.
Another thing you need to know when using the word “incredulous” is that it is more effective and emphasizes your feeling of disbelieving more than the word “skeptical.” “Incredulous” shows a refusal to believe a thing but being “skeptical” means you are doubtful but you have not discredited it completely. So, you use “skeptical” when there are doubts about believing something and you use “incredulous” when there is outright disbelief because something is not true.
The word “incredulous” can be used in four different types of sentence structure.
- You can use it in a simple sentence, a sentence that contains a subject, a verb, it could also have modifiers and an object. And there is only one independent clause.
- It could also be used in a compound sentence, containing at least two independent clauses which are combined with a comma and a semicolon or coordinating conjunction.
- You can use it in a complex sentence, that contains at least an independent clause and one dependent clause (refers to the subject, the time, or the casual elements of the independent clause).
- And finally, you can use it in a compound-complex sentence, containing at least a dependent clause and two independent clauses.
We will give examples of how you can use the word “incredulous” in the sentence structures in the section below.
Illustrative Examples On How To Use The Word “Incredulous”
For you to clearly understand all we have been discussing, here are some examples that depict how to use the word “incredulous” in a sentence.
- Peter had an incredulous expression on his face when he heard his name announced as the winner of the competition.
- James was incredulous when he heard the rumors about his girlfriend.
- The news reporter had an incredulous look on his face when he discovered that crude oil had nothing to do with the political uprising in the North African countries.
- He was astounded, uncertain, incredulous, and dazzled when he heard the unfortunate incident that happened to his best friend.
- The cashier at the bank gave Francis an incredulous look when he deposited a real check for twenty million dollars.
- After trying hard to become pregnant for five years, June was incredulous when her doctor broke the news of her pregnancy to her.
- The incredulous man could hardly believe he survived the car wreck without a single scratch.
- A lot of people were incredulous when the result of the musical competition was announced.
- A few incredulous spectators watched as Peter, who was ranked 23rd in the world, defeated the champion.
- The love between John and Jane was confounding and beyond overwhelming; it was incredulous, to say the least.
- As she stared at the hitman trembling, her face flushed and her eyes were full of incredulous fear and horror.
- Anne startled, appearing both incredulous and fearful of the woman standing before her in the train station.
- Rachel’s friends were incredulous when they heard the news of her wedding scheduled to be held at the end of the year.
- I find it incredulous people think Drake is better at writing songs than Kendrick Lamar.
- J Cole had a lot of his fans incredulous when he said “I promise to slap all the hate out your voice” in his song Middle Child.
- For a second, John thought his younger brother was playing a prank on him, but a glance at him convinced him and he managed to restrain a peal of incredulous laughter.
- When the baron explained the charge in crude terms, Jude was incredulous and couldn’t help but laugh at the notion.
- She looked up with a kind of vague, incredulous smile, and passed her hand across her forehead, as though to reflect more clearly.
- He spontaneously generates melodic lines and develops them at length, so that one is left incredulous that this is all improvised.
- We were incredulous that such deep divisions were apparent in a profession that should be working together.
- Tucker Hull was incredulous when he received his first piece of recruiting mail from the Navy.
You will notice from the various examples above that the word “incredulous” describes people and their reactions to something they find very difficult to believe.
Final Thoughts
The English language has some words that will leave you confused as to how and when to use them. But you do not have to be anymore, we have provided a detailed explanation on the word “incredulous.”
So, go on and read up!
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.