doubting Thomas

n.
One who is habitually doubtful.

[After Saint THOMAS, who doubted Jesus's resurrection until he had proof of it.]

(DOU-ting TOM-uhs)

noun
A person who is habitually doubtful or someone who refuses to believe something until given proof. [After Saint Thomas, apostle, who doubted Jesus Christ's resurrection according to the Bible.

Usage
"Since he was elected in 1982, the 43-year-old Braddock has developed a reputation as the `Dr. No' of the House of Representatives. He is the proverbial skeptic in the back row, the doubting Thomas, the heckler of other legislators' proposals more interested in tossing a wrench into the system than making it work better." — Doug Underwood, Dr. No' Says Yes to Health Care, The Seattle Times, Mar 16, 1987.

"Jo-Ann, an editorial assistant in Manhattan, landed her last boyfriend using the rules, and she was a Doubting Thomas at first." — Sharon Krum, Dating Rules, OK! The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia), Nov 21, 1996. Note: I'll be on "Weekday" program on Seattle's NPR affiliate KUOW Radio 94.9 FM on Fri, Oct 4, 2002 from 9 to 10 AM Pacific time. To call in the program, dial (800) 289-KUOW. -Anu

---

noun

One who habitually or instinctively doubts or questions: doubter, nonbeliever, skeptic, unbeliever. See belief/unbelief.

One who is habitually doubtful. For example, He was a doubting Thomas about the coming merger, not believing it would ever happen. The term alludes to the disciple Thomas, who doubted Jesus's resurrection until he had first-hand evidence of it (John 20:24-29).

---

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: the Apostle who would not believe the resurrection of Jesus until he saw Jesus with his own eyes
  Synonyms: Thomas, Saint Thomas, St Thomas, Thomas the doubting Apostle

Meaning #2: someone who demands physical evidence in order to be convinced (especially when this demand is out of place)

---