harbor skepticism

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harbor skepticism" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to hold or maintain doubt or disbelief about something. Example: Despite the overwhelming evidence, some people still harbor skepticism about the effects of climate change.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Manufacturers and developers still harbor skepticism over the viability of two-way, interactive TV.

Forbes

Audiophile purists still harbor skepticism about headphones, despite the existence of some pretty amazing sets of cans.

TechCrunch

Despite the release of the Apple Watch and all other smartwatches before it, the majority of consumers still harbor skepticism about the nascent category-at-large.

TechCrunch

Still, Kennedy may harbor skepticism about the law known as Obamacare, and he acknowledged during arguments the possibility that the challengers could "prevail on the plain words of the statute".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Still, given my previous P.D. experience, I initially harbored skepticism.

The New York Times

Before their first meeting in Seoul, Abrahamian confessed to harboring skepticism about Fifield.

Stanford University

If you found yourself harboring skepticism or vague negativity toward the city's newly initiated bike-sharing program, it is possible that you were suddenly moved to defend it after witnessing The Wall Street Journal's recent video interview with Dorothy Rabinowitz, an editorial board member who spent four minutes making crazy-lady assertions about cycling's hold on New York.

The New York Times

Form relationships with reporters speaking positively about the space, and help educate those still harboring skepticism.

Forbes

I should disclose here that I harbor considerable skepticism about the lasting value of the neatly packaged bromides found in much of the "business wisdom" literature.

Yale University

A better response is to harbor healthy skepticism of the digital technologies they champion, develop values that will lead to better decisions, and work to institutionalize those values at the organizational level.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Today, it's hard to imagine anyone who doesn't already harbor some skepticism entertaining her argument, just as it's hard to believe that Dupr? reflections on Mary's relevance in her own life will find an audience beyond the devout.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harbor skepticism" when you want to express a persistent, underlying doubt or disbelief that may not be openly expressed.

Common error

Avoid using "harbor skepticism" when the situation warrants a stronger term like "cynicism". Skepticism implies a questioning attitude, while cynicism suggests a belief that people are generally motivated by self-interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harbor skepticism" functions as a verb phrase where "harbor" acts as a transitive verb taking "skepticism" as its direct object. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is correct and the examples confirm its role in expressing a state of doubt.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harbor skepticism" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote an underlying sense of doubt or disbelief. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Although not exceedingly common, it appears frequently in news, academic, and business contexts. The phrase sits in a register that is considered neutral, leaning towards professional. Related phrases include "hold doubts" and "remain unconvinced". When using the phrase, it is important to differentiate skepticism from cynicism, with skepticism indicating a questioning attitude and cynicism suggesting a belief in self-interest as the primary motivator.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel skeptical

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct expression of feeling skepticism.

hold doubts

Replaces "skepticism" with the more general term "doubts".

remain unconvinced

Focuses on the lack of conviction rather than the presence of skepticism.

maintain reservations

Substitutes "skepticism" with "reservations", suggesting a more cautious form of doubt.

view with suspicion

Conveys skepticism through the lens of suspicion, implying a lack of trust.

entertain doubts

Replaces the verb "harbor" with "entertain", implying a more active consideration of doubts.

question the validity

Directly challenges the truth or accuracy of something, showing active skepticism.

nurture doubts

Uses "nurture" instead of "harbor", suggesting that doubts are being deliberately cultivated or maintained.

express disbelief

Replaces "harbor skepticism" with a more overt expression of disbelief.

possess uncertainties

Replaces both "harbor" and "skepticism" with synonyms, offering a more formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "harbor skepticism" in a sentence?

You can use "harbor skepticism" to indicate that someone holds a degree of doubt or disbelief about something. For example, "Despite the company's claims, many investors still "harbor skepticism" about its long-term prospects."

What's a less formal way to say "harbor skepticism"?

Alternatives to "harbor skepticism" include phrases like "feel skeptical", "have doubts", or "remain unconvinced", which are suitable for more informal contexts.

What is the difference between "harbor skepticism" and "express skepticism"?

"Harbor skepticism" suggests a private, internal feeling of doubt, whereas "express skepticism" implies that the doubt is being voiced or communicated to others.

Which is more appropriate: "harbor skepticism" or "harbor doubts"?

Both ""harbor skepticism"" and "harbor doubts" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. "Harbor skepticism" is slightly more specific, focusing on a questioning or doubting attitude, while "harbor doubts" is more general, encompassing any form of uncertainty or misgiving.