dubious
Americanadjective
-
doubtful; marked by or occasioning doubt.
a dubious reply.
-
of doubtful quality or propriety; questionable.
a dubious compliment; a dubious transaction.
-
of uncertain outcome.
in dubious battle.
-
wavering or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt.
adjective
-
marked by or causing doubt
a dubious reply
-
unsettled in mind; uncertain; doubtful
-
of doubtful quality; untrustworthy
a dubious reputation
-
not certain in outcome
Synonym Usage
See doubtful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dubious
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin dubius; cf. doubt ( def. )
Explanation
Choose the adjective dubious for something you have doubts about or you suspect is not true. That bridge you just "bought" might be of dubious value. Dubious stems from Latin dubiosus, "doubtful" or "uncertain," and contains the Latin root duo in this case meaning "of two minds." This is apparent in that dubious generally describes something that appears one way but is truly another. A dubious claim is probably not true, whereas a dubious website or character is of questionable quality. Dubious can also be synonymous with doubtful, as in "she was dubious about the idea."
Vocabulary lists containing dubious
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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Lord of the Flies
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But others are still dubious that the city will fulfill its promises — or that the project itself will ever be finished.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The classic example is of dubious historical accuracy, but originates from the British occupation of India.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
"Whenever we find out that there's something dubious or fishy about a couple, we disqualify them," he tells the BBC.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
That dubious award would go to the Venezuelan Big Mac.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
But upon close inspection, the information invariably traced back to the same dubious sources: private eyes and local lawmen, whose opinions were based on little more than hearsay.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
