skeptic
careful doubter before belief
Root
- skept: look, examine, consider, or question
Other words with the skept root
- skeptical: doubting or asking for evidence
A skeptic looks closely before believing.
A good skeptic asked for evidence without mocking the speaker.
Skeptic is not the same as cynic. The older image is examining or considering. A skeptic withholds belief until the claim can survive a closer look.