doubtful
Americanadjective
-
of uncertain outcome or result.
- Synonyms:
- problematic, dubious, indecisive, unsettled, undetermined
- Antonyms:
- certain
-
admitting of or causing doubt; uncertain; ambiguous.
- Synonyms:
- indeterminate, unsure
- Antonyms:
- certain
-
unsettled in opinion or belief; undecided; hesitating.
- Synonyms:
- hesitant, vacillating, irresolute
-
of equivocal or questionable character.
His tactics are highly doubtful.
- Synonyms:
- shady
adjective
-
unlikely; improbable
-
characterized by or causing doubt; uncertain
a doubtful answer
-
unsettled; unresolved
-
of questionable reputation or morality
-
having reservations or misgivings
-
(of a sportsperson) not likely to be fit enough to play or take part
noun
-
a person who is undecided or uncertain about an issue
-
a sportsperson who is not likely to be fit enough to play or take part
Usage
See doubt.
It was formerly considered correct to use whether after doubtful (it is doubtful whether he will come), but now if and that are also acceptable
Related Words
Doubtful, dubious, incredulous, skeptical imply reluctance or unwillingness to be convinced. To be doubtful about something is to feel that it is open to question or that more evidence is needed to prove it: to be doubtful about the statements of witnesses. Dubious implies vacillation, unsureness, or suspicion: dubious about suggested methods of manufacture. Incredulous means unwilling or reluctant to believe: incredulous at the good news. Skeptical implies a general disposition to doubt or question: skeptical of human progress.
Other Word Forms
- doubtfully adverb
- doubtfulness noun
- predoubtful adjective
- predoubtfully adverb
- quasi-doubtful adjective
- quasi-doubtfully adverb
- undoubtful adjective
- undoubtfully adverb
- undoubtfulness noun
Etymology
Origin of doubtful
First recorded in 1350–1400, doubtful is from the Middle English word douteful. See doubt, -ful
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.
If there is enough private support in Washington, which is doubtful, the Kennedy Center could become a privately funded model similar to its peers around the country.
It’s doubtful that any trading algorithms kicked in, except those that might have been keyed to a sharp reversal of trading sentiment from earlier in the week, when it was pretty sour.
From Los Angeles Times
They argued the seizure was therefore "heavily aggravated by the circumstances and appears to have had a doubtful or improper motive".
From BBC
And the recent examples of private loans held near cost that were marked down dramatically shortly thereafter might have investors in a doubtful frame of mind.
Following the first round of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi last month, Ukrainians were doubtful any deal could be struck with Moscow.
From Barron's
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.
