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.
Musk’s designation as the world’s first trillionaire is based on dubious Wall Street math.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Lincicome added that Washington's discrimination claims over dairy products could be seen as "dubious" too as they relate to terms of Canada's trade deal with the European Union.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
After doubling down on this case, Blanche oversaw a highly dubious indictment that accused Abrego Garcia of human smuggling.
From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2026
But the notion of a woman with a prenup and wealthy lineages heading into real financial precarity was dubious.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
It was an expensive undertaking on a dubious mission, but I would feel as if I’d done everything possible if I met with Dean O’Neill and made my pitch face to face.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
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.
