Dubious (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Fraught with uncertainty or doubt; "they were doubtful that the cord would hold"; "it was doubtful whether she would be admitted"; "dubious about agreeing to go".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The police were dubious about the suspect's alibi for the night of the crime.
- He was dubious about the new restaurant in town, having heard mixed reviews from friends.
- She was dubious about the effectiveness of the new diet, having tried many others without success.
- His dubious claim of being a professional athlete raised some eyebrows among the other players.
- After hearing the presentation, investors were dubious about the startup's chances of turning a profit.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Not convinced; "they admitted the force of my argument but remained dubious".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- I've heard claims of a cure for the disease, but I remain dubious about its effectiveness.
- The company's promises of high returns on investment seemed dubious, so I decided to do some further research.
- She was dubious about the new policy and expressed her concerns to the management team.
- The detective was dubious about the suspect's alibi and decided to investigate further.
- After reviewing the data, the scientist was dubious about the conclusions drawn by her colleagues.
Related Words
Meaning 3
Open to doubt or suspicion; "the candidate's doubtful past"; "he has a dubious record indeed"; "what one found uncertain the other found dubious or downright false"; "it was more than dubitable whether the friend was as influential as she thought"- Karen Horney.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The new employee's dubious credentials prompted the manager to investigate further.
- Her dubious behavior at the party raised eyebrows among their mutual friends.
- The company's dubious business practices led to a federal investigation and eventual shutdown.
- He had a dubious reputation for being reckless on the highway, which made his friends hesitant to ride with him.
- The dubious claim that the health supplement had miraculous healing powers was met with skepticism by the medical community.