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
Related Words
See doubtful.
Other Word Forms
- dubiously adverb
- dubiousness noun
- superdubious adjective
- superdubiously adverb
- superdubiousness noun
- undubious adjective
- undubiously adverb
- undubiousness noun
Etymology
Origin of dubious
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin dubius; doubt ( def. )
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.
That amount, which created nothing but an advertisement for a product of dubious value to society, is the price of two Walt Disney Concert Halls and probably all of Gehry’s projects put together.
From Los Angeles Times
The pattern started with some dubious candlesticks in the fourth quarter, featuring a dark cloud cover on Oct.
From Barron's
In their Summary of Economic Projections, Fed officials continue to point to one rate cut this year, but Powell’s tone during his press conference this afternoon made even that forecast sound dubious.
From Barron's
In their Summary of Economic Projections, Fed officials continue to point to one rate cut this year, but Powell’s tone during his press conference this afternoon made even that forecast sound dubious.
From Barron's
There’s no such thing as a cost-free industry, but Debrecen residents are left shouldering a large environmental burden for dubious economic benefit.
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.
