Incredulous is an adjective that means “unable or unwilling to believe something.” If someone looks or sounds incredulous, they’re basically thinking, “No way—that can’t be true.”
People use it in everyday conversation to show shock or doubt. A friend might raise an eyebrow and say, “You’re telling me you met Beyoncé at the grocery store? I’m incredulous.” It pops up in texts, tweets, and stories whenever something sounds too wild to accept.
Meaning & Usage Examples
• “She gave me an incredulous stare when I said I’d never tried pizza.”
• “His voice was incredulous: ‘You finished the whole series in one night?’”
Context / Common Use
You’ll often hear it in reaction to surprising news, gossip, or plot twists. It fits naturally after phrases like “He looked…” or “She sounded…” to paint a quick picture of disbelief.
Is “incredulous” the same as “incredible”?
No. Incredible means “amazing,” while incredulous describes the person who doesn’t believe it.
Can a thing be incredulous?
No, only people (or animals with feelings) can be incredulous. Objects or events are described as “incredible.”
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