French word

incrédule

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃kʁedyl/

Meaning

  • adjectiveincredulous

Example

Je suis incrédule quand j'entends cette histoire.

I am incredulous when I hear this story.

Illustration for incrédule (incredulous)

More examples

Le public était incrédule devant ces preuves.

The audience was incredulous about these pieces of evidence.

Core concept

Someone hears a claim, questions it, and withholds belief when proof is lacking.

Common phrases

  • avoir l'air incrédule

    look incredulous

  • paraître incrédule

    seem incredulous

  • regarder d'un air incrédule

    look at ___ incredulously

Similar words

sceptique: Unwilling to accept an explanation without reliable supporting evidence.
méfiant: Cautious and slow to trust another person's words or actions.
dubitatif: Showing uncertainty about information and withholding immediate belief.
soupçonneux: Suspicious that another person may have harmful intentions.

Definition in French

Décrit une attitude sceptique qui ne se laisse pas convaincre sans preuve suffisante.

Word origin

Incrédule is an inherited French development of Latin incredulus, built on credere, 'to believe', with a negative in- prefix.

Usage tips

  • Incrédule is a false friend of incredible: it describes a person's disbelief or skeptical attitude, not something impressive or extraordinary.

Other meanings

  • skepticaladjective
  • disbelievingadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • incrédulitéincredulitynoun

Word lists with this word