skeptiske

Skeptiske is an adjective used in Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Swedish to mean “skeptical.” It describes a doubtful or questioning attitude toward a claim, situation, or person, and is typically placed before plural nouns or noun phrases.

Etymology traces skeptiske to the Greek skeptikos, meaning curious or inquiring, through Latin scepticus and Old French sceptique, before entering the Scandinavian languages via Germanic influence. The word shares its root with English skeptical and related terms in other European languages.

In Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Swedish usage, skeptiske is the form used before plural nouns. It can describe people, statements, attitudes, or approaches that express doubt, caution, or a demand for evidence. The term is common in everyday speech, journalism, scientific discourse, and philosophy, where it helps frame discussions about verification and doubt without asserting certainty.

Related forms include the noun skepsis (skepticism) and the noun for a person with a skeptical stance, such as skeptiker or skeptiker/skeptiker in various languages. The concept of skepticism also appears in broad philosophical contexts, ethics, and science communication, where it serves to encourage critical examination and empirical support for claims.