incredulously

To react incredulously is to respond to something with disbelief and skepticism. It's more than just not believing something; it also suggests surprise that someone would say or claim such a thing. In everyday English, the word usually describes the manner of a reaction, such as the way someone speaks, looks, or asks a question when they find something hard to believe.

You might hear it used to describe how someone listened—"She listened incredulously to his story about meeting a celebrity." Or it can modify an action: "He shook his head incredulously at the news." It's often paired with words like "stared," "asked," or "exclaimed" to paint a picture of someone struggling to accept what they're hearing.

Incredulity isn't necessarily rude, though it can come across that way if not tempered with politeness. It simply reflects a strong sense of doubt and surprise. A detective might listen incredulously to a suspect's alibi, or a scientist might review data incredulously if the results defy all known laws.

So, when something seems too good (or too bad) to be true, and you react with a mixture of shock and disbelief—that's acting incredulously. It's a powerful way to show just how far-fetched you find an idea or story.