dubious

[ doo-bee-uhs, dyoo- ]

/ ˈdu bi əs, ˈdyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dubious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

Nearby words

Origin of dubious

1540–50; < Latin dubius; see -ous

SYNONYMS FOR dubious

1. equivocal, ambiguous, obscure, unclear. 4. undecided, uncertain, hesitant, fluctuating.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dubious ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

du·bi·ous·ly, adverbdu·bi·ous·ness, nounsu·per·du·bi·ous, adjectivesu·per·du·bi·ous·ly, adverb

su·per·du·bi·ous·ness, nounun·du·bi·ous, adjectiveun·du·bi·ous·ly, adverbun·du·bi·ous·ness, noun

Synonym study

4. See doubtful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dubious

Domestically, the prime minister maintains the dubious line that he is the only man who can keep the still-fragile peace.
Cambodia’s Smoke-and-Mirrors Democracy|David Shaftel|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Krivov was arrested in October 2012, on the dubious charges of participation in “mass riots.”
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015|Movements.Org|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We kindly inform these little jokers with the dubious jokes that they risk judicial proceedings they may not find funny at all.
French Freak-Out Over Creepy Clowns|Tracy McNicoll|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Louisiana university has turned into a nanny state, issuing a campus smoking ban of dubious legality.
The University Of New Orleans’ Cigarette Ban Is Total BS|Chloé Valdary|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The British detectives have since interviewed countless witnesses and cleared a number of dubious suspects in the case.
Does a Perv Know Maddie McCann’s Fate?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He gave a dubious response; George could win his recognition as king by extirpating heresy, and he promised to send legates.
A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume II|Henry Charles Lea
"Not actually," was the counsel—of dubious comfort—from the other.
Wanted: A Husband|Samuel Hopkins Adams
O'Toole was told to be as dumb as an oyster as to ourselves, but wide awake as to the designs of our dubious friends.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various
A dubious Friedrich, to the French spy, at this moment; nothing like so admirable as he once was!
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIV. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
It is dubious whether it has much changed since, unless to become worse.
The Rebel Chief|Gustave Aimard

British Dictionary definitions for dubious

dubious

/ (ˈdjuːbɪəs) /

adjective

marked by or causing doubta dubious reply

unsettled in mind; uncertain; doubtful

of doubtful quality; untrustworthya dubious reputation

not certain in outcome

Derived Formsdubiously, adverbdubiousness, noun

Word Origin for dubious

C16: from Latin dubius wavering

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dubious

dubious

adj.

1540s, from Latin dubiosus "doubtful," from dubium "doubt," neuter of dubius "vacillating, moving two ways, fluctuating;" figuratively "wavering in opinion, doubting, doubtful," from duo "two" (see two), with a sense of "of two minds, undecided between two things." Old English also used tweo "two" to mean "doubt." Cf. doubt (v.). Related: Dubiously; dubiousness.

dubious

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of dubious

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for dubious

dubious

adjective

Word Origin for dubious

dubious