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incredulity
/ɪnˈkrɛdʒəlɪti/
state of being unwilling to believe
Her expression was one of pure incredulity when she heard the news.
She looked completely unable to accept what was said as true.
formal
the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something
The judge listened to the witness's testimony with growing incredulity.
The judge found it increasingly hard to believe the witness's claims.
His incredulity turned to anger as he realized he had been deceived.
He became angry when he understood the deception because he had not believed it could happen.
Often used to describe reactions to shocking or unbelievable events. Not the same as skepticism, which implies questioning rather than outright disbelief.
Collocations
express incredulityto show disbeliefstare in incredulityto look at something with shock and disbelief
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Distinguish from related words
Avoid confusing 'incredulity' with 'credulity' (a tendency to believe things too readily). Incredulity is the opposite of belief, while credulity is the opposite of skepticism.
Gold Rule
Use with reactions
Incredulity is typically used to describe someone's reaction to something surprising or shocking, rather than describing the event itself.
Word Origin
From Latin *incredulitas*, from *in-* (not) + *credulus* (believing), from *credere* (to believe).
Usage Notes
Incredulity is a more formal alternative to 'disbelief' and is often used in written or literary contexts. It implies a stronger emotional reaction than skepticism, which can be more neutral or analytical.
Word Breakdown
in-
not
prefix-cred-
believe
root-ulity
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary