doubtful
14
3.0
- adjective
- /ˈdaʊt.fəl/
- The world is increasingly doubtful that Beijing will reform politically and become a responsible global actor.
- seem doubtful
- highly doubtful
- particularly doubtful
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Watch on YouTubeLet go of the let go of the doubtful thoughts.
- Let go of the let go of the doubtful thoughts.
- So people were dubious, some people were excited, some were doubtful.
- There's absolutely a need to be critical and doubtful and skeptical and even pessimistic.
- And I, I think one of the main things I admire about you is how doubtful and yet adventurous you are.
- Because you can get doubtful enough to start doubting the validity of your own cynicism.
- There's this acceleration of making people docile and dependent and weak and sick and fearful and doubtful and uncertain.
- And I have a phrase that if you're about to give the benefit of the doubt, ask yourself why you're so doubtful.
- You need to keep asking pointed, doubtful, skeptical, snarky questions that our reporters are too afraid to ask.
- And so when you're doubtful, say you're trapped.
- But that of all of what he said, maybe you're most doubtful.
Examples
-
The teacher was doubtful that the program would be extended to the following year.
Academic text (2003) -
"Leah did not reply but, looking rather doubtful, merely stirred the milk into her coffee.
Fiction book (1990) -
It's doubtful that he'll ever speak again.
-
It's doubtful they can hold out much longer.
-
After all, it is highly doubtful that any public survey will show most.
Academic text (1993) -
Now at this point, it's doubtful that this other source will be hydrogen.
-
I think it's doubtful, don't you?
-
Alan was highly doubtful that Meg Harris was a woman he would have liked.
Fiction book (1996) -
"You'll be great at it," he'd said when she sounded doubtful about the group.
Fiction book (1999) -
It's doubtful that he will ever speak again.
Synonyms
261
4.2
Not easily believing that something is true
99
1.5
Not confident or certain about what to do
88
6.5
Not clearly true or trustworthy and causing doubt
72
3.2
Slow to act or speak because you feel unsure
55
5.1
Made or said without being fully certain, often as a trial
41
3.9
Not feeling sure or confident
12
5.1
Not sure that something is true or will work
1
9.9
Not sure what will happen or what people will decide
Antonyms
How Doubtful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Doubtful comes from the old Latin word dubius, related to duo meaning 'two', as if you have 'two minds' about something. So to be doubtful is to feel unsure or not convinced.