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doubt

doubt

∞ 1.6
A feeling of not being sure about something
  • noun
  • /daʊt/
: duda
  • Despite his achievements, she still had some doubt about his ability to lead.
  • little doubt
  • cast doubt
  • leave no doubt

Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

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Examples

  • Certainly there was no doubt in her mind that it could be achieved.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The silent crowds were in no doubt what it was all about.

    Academic text (2011)
  • One more note about doubt before we we move on.

  • Once you clear away the doubt, it will never happen for me.

  • Is there any doubt in your heart?

  • Not to let the voices of doubt shut you down too much.

  • It's important you have no doubts.

  • Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

  • Faith is what replaces doubt in my dictionary.

  • If you've got any doubts, I say call off this party.

Synonyms

uncertainty
vsdoubt
255 4.0

Not being sure about what will happen or what to do

is the personal feeling of not being sure rather than an abstract condition
skepticism
vsdoubt
  • US
121 5.1

A feeling of doubt about an idea or claim when there is not enough proof

is an internal uncertainty rather than a systematic critical stance
reservation
vsdoubt
96 4.8

A feeling of doubt that makes you hesitate to agree

is the general uncertain feeling rather than the specific hesitation before agreement
qualm
vsdoubt
32 8.4

A feeling of doubt or unease about whether you are doing the right thing

is a broader lack of conviction, not focused on moral unease
misgiving
vsdoubt
2 5.9

A feeling of doubt or worry about whether something will turn out well

is the neutral lack of conviction without added worry
dubiousness
vsdoubt
1 7.8

A feeling of doubt or not trusting something

is the plain feeling of uncertainty without extra suspicion
unsureness
vsdoubt
1 3.8

A feeling of doubt or low confidence

is the inner feeling of uncertainty rather than the general state
peradventure
vsdoubt
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A feeling of doubt about whether something is true

is the modern, common feeling of being unsure rather than archaic wording
incertitude
vsdoubt
  • Formal
1 8.9

A feeling of not being sure or confident about something

is the immediate emotional lack of conviction rather than a formal condition
questionability
vsdoubt
1 7.5

The fact that something may not be true or reliable

is the personal sense of uncertainty rather than a judgment on validity
dubiety
vsdoubt
  • Formal
1 9.9

A feeling of doubt or uncertainty about something

is the simple personal feeling of uncertainty rather than a named quality
doubtfulness
vsdoubt
1 5.5

A feeling of not being sure about something

is the basic feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction
1 7.9

The quality of being doubtful about whether something is true

is the inner lack of conviction rather than an external weakness in claim
uncertainness
vsdoubt
6.0

A state of not knowing what will happen

is the feeling of uncertainty experienced by a person rather than a condition
noncertainty
vsdoubt
8.8

A feeling of not being sure about something

is the personal emotional response of not being convinced

Antonyms

certainty
  • Literature
198 3.4

A strong feeling that something is true or will happen

190 4.5

A strong belief or opinion that someone is sure about

Idioms

784 1.8

Shows that something is almost certainly true, often before saying something different

107 2.3

Says that something is certainly true

74 2.8

Completely certain with no possible reason to think it is wrong

Completely sure with no chance of being wrong

when in doubt
  • Informal
20 4.5

If you are not sure, follow safe advice or ask someone

Completely certain with no doubt

Being completely sure about something even when you are wrong

Make something not completely certain or convincing

1 5.9

To make someone begin to feel unsure about something

Almost no chance of being wrong

1 4.9

A very small feeling of being unsure about something

Compounds

25 4.6

Not feeling sure about what you can do or your decisions

shadow of doubt
  • Informal
19 3.8

A small feeling that something might not be true

Short times when a person feels unsure about a choice or situation

1 7.9

A very small feeling that something may not be true

1 7.7

A strong, worrying feeling that you are not sure you can trust someone or something

undersong of doubt
  • Literature
9.9

A quiet feeling of not being sure about something

How Doubtful

distrust
54 3.5
uncertainty
255 4.0
doubt
∞ 1.6
misgiving
2 5.9
suspicion
226 2.3

Surface Forms

doubt singular
doubts plural

Etymology

Doubt comes from the old Latin verb dubitare, which means 'to be unsure', and it shares the same root as dubious. So a doubt is the feeling of not being sure or not fully convinced.