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Meaning & use

dubious

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈdjuːbiəs/
US/ˈduːbiəs/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Feeling doubt or not being convinced that something is true or will work.

    Grammar: Describes a person, usually after a verb and followed by about: I'm dubious about the plan.

    Patterns

    • be dubious about something
    • feel dubious about doing something

    I was dubious about the plan from the start, and events proved me right.

    She looked dubious when he said the bridge would hold.

    The coach was dubious about playing him so soon after the injury.

  2. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Open to question because it may be false, dishonest or of poor quality.

    Grammar: Describes a thing, usually before a noun: a dubious claim.

    Patterns

    • of dubious value
    • a dubious claim

    The website made dubious claims about a miracle cure.

    He had a dubious reputation among local traders.

    The painting was of dubious origin, so the museum refused to buy it.

  3. adjectivebefore a nounhumorous

    Described ironically as a distinction or honor that is not really admirable.

    Grammar: Used with honor, distinction or pleasure: the dubious honor of finishing last.

    Patterns

    • the dubious honor of doing something
    • the dubious distinction of something

    He had the dubious honor of being the first person to fall off the new slide.

    The restaurant has the dubious distinction of failing every inspection this year.

Word forms

comparativemore dubious
superlativemost dubious

Common combinations

dubious about
The bank was dubious about lending him more money.
dubious claim
The ad made a dubious claim that the product could double your income.
dubious origins
The antique has dubious origins and no paperwork.
a dubious reputation
The company has a dubious reputation for ignoring complaints.
dubious honor
She earned the dubious honor of being the slowest runner on the team.
of dubious quality
They sold cheap tools of dubious quality.

Synonyms and how they differ

doubtful
Doubtful is plainer and can describe an uncertain outcome, while dubious more often suggests suspicion or a lack of honesty.
suspicious
Suspicious means that you think something is wrong or dishonest, which is stronger than the milder uncertainty of dubious.
questionable
Questionable describes a thing that invites questions, and unlike dubious it cannot describe a person's own doubt.
shady
Shady is informal and strongly suggests dishonesty, while dubious is more formal and may only mean unproven.

Opposites

certaintrustworthyconvincing

Word family

dubiously adverb
in a doubtful or suspicious way
dubiousness noun
the quality of being open to doubt
dubiety noun
a formal word for the state of being doubtful
doubt noun
a feeling of uncertainty

Commonly confused: dubious or doubtful?

dubious vs doubtful

Doubtful is close in meaning, but it describes uncertain outcomes more often, while dubious often implies something is suspicious or unreliable.

Practice

The seller made a ___ claim that the used car had never been in an accident, although the records showed otherwise.

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