adj.
Pronunciation: ( ˌ )in- ' kre-j ə -l ə s, -dy ə -l ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin incredulus, from in- + credulus credulous
Date: 1579
1 : unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true : not credulous : SKEPTICAL
2 : INCREDIBLE 1
3 : expressing incredulity <an incredulous stare>
– in · cred · u · lous · ly adverb
usage Sense 2 was revived in the 20th century after a couple of centuries of disuse. Although it is a sense with good literary precedentamong others Shakespeare used itmany people think it is a result of confusion with incredible, which is still the usual word in this sense.