Skeptical means to question whether something is really true before accepting it. A skeptical person wants evidence, asks thoughtful questions, and looks for reasons to trust information before believing it.

If your friend tells you they saw a UFO land in their backyard last night, you'd probably be skeptical. You might ask: “Did anyone else see it? Do you have a photo? Could it have been something else, like a drone or a helicopter?” That's healthy skepticism at work.

Scientists are professionally skeptical. They don't accept new theories just because they sound interesting. They design experiments, gather data, and challenge claims until the evidence becomes convincing. This careful questioning is how we separate real discoveries from mistakes or wishful thinking.

Being skeptical is different from being cynical. A cynical person assumes everything is false or that people have bad motives. A skeptical person simply wants good reasons to believe something. When you're skeptical about whether you can finish all your homework before dinner, you're honestly weighing whether you have enough time, not just assuming failure.