dubious

[doo-bee-uhs, dyoo-]

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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.

Origin of dubious

1540–50; < Latin dubius; see -ous

Related formsdu·bi·ous·ly, adverbdu·bi·ous·ness, nounsu·per·du·bi·ous, adjectivesu·per·du·bi·ous·ly, adverbsu·per·du·bi·ous·ness, nounun·du·bi·ous, adjectiveun·du·bi·ous·ly, adverbun·du·bi·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms for dubious

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

Synonym study

4. See doubtful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for dubiously

suspiciously, indecisively

Examples from the Web for dubiously

Contemporary Examples of dubiously

The arts world is fuming over Obama's dubiously qualified "arts czar," and a humanities appointee who lacks a college degree.
Obama Stiffs the Arts
Judith H. Dobrzynski
March 25, 2009

Historical Examples of dubiously

"Yes," he said dubiously, glancing at the bed and the table and the ricketty washstand.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
He indicates an imaginary abyss, which Jem stares at dubiously.
The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 25, January 1893
Various
But this self-sacrificing proposal was dubiously received by both the ladies.
Cap'n Dan's Daughter
Joseph C. Lincoln
"But maybe we'd better not do too much of that," said Jeter dubiously.
Lords of the Stratosphere
Arthur J. Burks
"But he nearly succeeded to-night," mumbled McGuire dubiously.
The Vagrant Duke
George Gibbs

British Dictionary definitions for dubiously

dubious

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 dubiously

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.