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Glite Dictionary
dubiously

dubiously

3 6.7
In a way that shows doubt or little trust
  • adverb
  • /ˈdjuːbiəsli/
translation icon : dudablemente
  • No one will look for us there." Riker eyed the blocked tunnel dubiously.
  • said dubiously
  • looked dubiously
  • asked dubiously

Examples

  • A few weeks before, Andy had surprised Clara as she was looking dubiously into the mirror.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • "I ... could maybe ... throw you two across," Connelly said dubiously.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "Maybe so," she granted dubiously, "but also maybe not."

    Fiction book (1997)

  • I closed my mind to the books. "You, Mary?" Stephen studies me dubiously.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • To which one upperclassman dubiously responded, "What kind of rice?"

    Fiction book (2000)

  • When they got there, however, they became silent, gazing dubiously into the dark waters.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • "Perhaps," Itagne said dubiously, "but you'd have to live long enough to get to the table first."

    Fiction book (1993)

  • "Could be some traveler's idea of a practical joke," Kosutic said dubiously.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • The young climbers looked at H'Ree dubiously and huddled closer together.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • She looked at the proposal dubiously, unsure if it would work as they claimed.

Synonyms

suspiciously
vsdubiously
43 3.8

In a way that shows you do not trust someone

leans toward general doubt or uncertainty rather than a clear accusation
uncertainly
vsdubiously
11 4.0

Act or speak in a way that shows you are not sure

adds a sense of doubt that can include suspicion or distrust
skeptically
vsdubiously
  • US
8 4.4

Showing doubt that something is true

is about doubt often mixed with suspicion or uncertainty
doubtfully
vsdubiously
4 3.8

In a way that shows you are not sure and have little confidence

expresses uncertain feeling but with a stronger hint of suspicion
questionably
vsdubiously
1 6.1

In a way that seems dishonest or not trustworthy

is used to show general doubt or suspicion rather than firm judgment
fishily
vsdubiously
9.3

In a way that shows you are hiding something or feeling guilty

focuses more on simple doubt or uncertainty than on oddness
unsurely
vsdubiously
4.1

In a way that shows someone is not sure

is about doubt combined with suspicion, not just low confidence
distrustfully
vsdubiously
5.6

In a way that shows you do not trust someone

is more about general doubt or uncertainty than explicit distrust
mistrustfully
vsdubiously
7.2

In a way that shows doubt about what someone wants

focuses instead on doubt or uncertainty rather than accusing dishonesty
untrustworthily
vsdubiously
8.1

In a dishonest or unreliable way

signals doubt about truth or motive rather than proven unreliability

Antonyms

confidently
36 2.9

In a way that shows a person is sure and not afraid

How Certain

confidently
36 2.9
dubiously
3 6.7
skeptically
  • US
8 4.4
tentatively
30 5.1

Surface Forms

dubiously positive
dubiouslyer comparative
dubiouslyest superlative

Morphology

dubiously = dubious (transparent) = dubious + ly

Standard adverb formation from the adjective 'dubious' meaning 'in a doubtful manner'.

Etymology

Dubiously comes from the Latin root dubitare, meaning 'to doubt', and it is the adverb form of dubious, which shares the same root as the common word doubt. Think of being 'in two minds' about something, so to act dubiously is to act with doubt or suspicion.