Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to plant a seed of doubt

to plant a seed of doubt

1 5.9
To make someone begin to feel unsure about something
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : sembrar una duda
  • His unexpected comments during the meeting planted a seed of doubt regarding the project's viability.
  • plant a seed of doubt in her mind

They start giving you the crumbs that are just enough to plant a seed of doubt in your mind about the relationship.

Examples

  • This will plant a seed of doubt (if not revulsion) in every conservative athlete that isn't a compulsive liar like Ryan.

    Blog text (27)

  • They start giving you the crumbs that are just enough to plant a seed of doubt in your mind about the relationship.

    DoctorRamani

  • I suppose the simplest way to break it up would be to plant a seed of doubt in her mind.

    Ghost Town (2008)

  • All it takes is one unfulfilled prophecy to plant a seed of doubt.

    T Blockers (2023)

  • They start giving you the crumbs that are just enough to plant a seed of doubt in your mind about the relationship.

    DoctorRamani

  • Do you sense that all these procedures can be used by competitors to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of the Commission's staff?

    Academic text (1999)

  • And if nothing will change their minds, then snide talk about condoms might be exactly the thing that plants a seed of doubt.

    Blog text (9)

  • It is precisely now, at this unique moment of visibility, that Jacoby plants a seed of doubt.

    Academic text (2014)

  • Dilworth had hoped to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of jurors by diverting attention from Buddy's actions to his sister's.

    Blog text (25)

  • The manager's remarks planted a seed of doubt in the team's confidence about completing the project.

Synonyms

to plant
vsto plant a seed of doubt
108 6.4

To put an idea or feeling into someone's mind so it stays there

introduce uncertainty temporarily rather than making it firmly held
to cast doubt
vsto plant a seed of doubt
17 4.6

Make people feel unsure if something is true

introduce uncertainty more subtly rather than bluntly accusing
to raise suspicion
vsto plant a seed of doubt
7 4.6

Make people doubt someone or something

introduce uncertainty but usually less accusatory or intense

Antonyms

to assure
823 3.0

To tell someone something confidently to remove their doubts or fears

to clarify
248 3.3

To make something clear so others can understand it

How Doubtful

to cast doubt
17 4.6
to plant a seed of doubt
  • Informal
1 5.9
to voice concern
  • Formal
7 3.9

Surface Forms

plant a seed of doubt infinitive
planted a seed of doubt past
planted a seed of doubt past participle
planting a seed of doubt present participle
plants a seed of doubt third person singular

Morphology

plant + a + seed + of + doubt

The meaning is directly and transparently built from the constituents: 'plant' (to put/introduce), 'seed' (a small initiating thing) and 'doubt' (uncertainty), so the phrase clearly means to introduce a small doubt that may grow. This agricultural metaphor is common across languages (e.g., Spanish 'sembrar dudas') and follows standard compositional patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the words can reasonably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Plant a seed of doubt gives a simple picture of someone planting a tiny seed that can grow later. Just as a small seed can grow into a big plant, a small idea can grow into 'uncertainty' or 'suspicion', so the phrase means to start a small worry that may grow.