WordGarden.iodubious
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /djˈuːbɪəs/
US
- /ˈdubiəs/
Meanings
Adjective
not sure or not fully trusting something
questionable or unlikely to be true or reliable
morally questionable or suspicious
Beyond the definition
Imagine a detective looking into a crime. If the clues do not quite add up, they might be dubious about the suspect's story, meaning they do not fully believe it and have serious doubts. "Dubious" does not always mean something is false. It usually means it seems doubtful, questionable, or a little suspicious. You might be dubious about a claim that sounds too good to be true, like winning a million dollars in a contest you never entered. It can also describe a person who seems unreliable or hard to trust. A dubious friend, for example, may be someone whose honesty or loyalty feels uncertain.
The word "dubious" describes something that causes uncertainty, doubt, or suspicion. It is more than just disagreeing with a statement; it implies a lack of trust or confidence in its truthfulness or reliability. Think of it as a gut feeling that something might be wrong, even if you cannot pinpoint exactly why.
"Dubious" can apply to many things: a dubious claim (an unbelievable story), a dubious character (someone untrustworthy), or a dubious plan (one likely to fail). For example, "The witness gave a dubious account of the events," suggests their testimony was questionable and unreliable. Or, "He had a dubious reputation," meaning people generally did not trust him or his past actions.
In older or more formal English, "dubious" can also describe a person's state of mind, meaning unsure or hesitant. More often in modern English, people say they are dubious about something rather than simply dubious. The word comes from the Latin dubitare, meaning "to doubt."
Ultimately, if something feels shaky, questionable, or makes you raise an eyebrow in skepticism, it is likely dubious. It signals a lack of certainty and invites further scrutiny before being accepted as true or reliable.
Examples
- 1
Planning doubt
At first, I was dubious about the plan, but it worked better than I expected.
- Patterndubious about + idea/plan
not fully convinced it is good
- 2
Health claims
The article makes some dubious claims about the health benefits of the diet.
- 3
Skeptical look
She gave me a dubious look when I said I could fix the car myself.
- 4
Document origin
Several of the documents were of dubious origin.
- Phraseof dubious origin
from an unclear or suspicious source
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Unwanted distinction
The town has the dubious distinction of being the wettest place in the region.
- Phrasedubious distinction
something bad or embarrassing that is described like an honor
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- dubious claim
- dubious distinction
- dubious about
Word family
- dubiously
- dubiousness
Explore
- credibility
- reasonable doubt
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- dubiousadjective