doubtful
[ dout-fuhl ]
/ ˈdaʊt fəl /
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adjective
of uncertain outcome or result.
admitting of or causing doubt; uncertain; ambiguous.
unsettled in opinion or belief; undecided; hesitating.
of equivocal or questionable character: His tactics are highly doubtful.
OTHER WORDS FOR doubtful
4 shady.
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Origin of doubtful
synonym study for doubtful
3. 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.
usage note for doubtful
See doubt.
OTHER WORDS FROM doubtful
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
British Dictionary definitions for doubtful
doubtful
/ (ˈdaʊtfʊl) /
adjective
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
Derived forms of doubtful
doubtfully, adverbdoubtfulness, nounusage for doubtful
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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