dubiousdu‧bi‧ous /ˈdjuːbiəs $ ˈduː-/ ●○○ adjective 
The firm was accused of dubious accounting practices. Many critics regard this argument as dubious or, at best, misleading. The assumption that growth in one country benefits the whole world is highly dubious.2[not before noun] not sure whether something is good or true SYN doubtful: I can see you are dubious; take some time to think about it.dubious about Some universities are dubious about accepting students over the age of 30. ‘Are you sure you know what you are doing?’ Andy said, looking dubious.3the dubious honour/distinction/pleasure (of doing something) a dubious honour etc is the opposite of an honour – used about something unpleasant that happens: The Stephensons had the dubious honor of being the 100th family to lose their home in the fire.4not good or not of good quality: The room was decorated in dubious taste.—dubiously adverb—dubiousness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINdubious
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin dubius, from dubare ‘to be unable to decide’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Newsome failed to explain his dubious personal finances.
- The new strategy of stopping drug smugglers is untested and dubious.
- Aside from its dubious cultural charm, there are serious structural weaknesses which may one day embarrass us.
- But the analogies which are used to justify the transition are dubious at best.
- Few teams can make that dubious claim.
- From somewhere nearby came a very dubious smell.
- I was a bit dubious at first, but I was hot and sticky and the water looked tempting.
- It would have been a rather dubious double, as Garnett was making history.
- Local people are dubious about whether that will ever happen.
- What dubious manipulation of the system would they use for their own political ends?
THESAURUSseeming to be dishonest
if someone or something seems suspicious, they make you think that something dishonest or illegal is happening: · The police are treating the boy’s death as suspicious.
if something seems dubious, you think it may not be completely true, right, or honest: · He has a rather dubious reputation.· It all sounds highly dubious to me.· the country’s dubious record on human rights
shady business deals or people seem to be dishonest or connected with secret and illegal activities: · Several senior members of the party had been involved in shady deals.· a shady character
someone who looks shifty looks as if they are doing or planning something dishonest: · The man on the market stall looked a bit shifty when he gave me my change.
British English informal probably dishonest and not to be trusted – used especially to say that you do not want to be involved with someone or something: · There’s something a bit dodgy about him.· dodgy business deals
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone or something seems dishonest use this about behaviour or a situation that makes you think that someone is doing something dishonest: · It all seems very suspicious to me. Where did he get all that money from?· The circumstances surrounding McBain's death are suspicious.· He glanced around, satisfied that nobody was taking any notice of his suspicious behaviour, then opened the door.suspicious-looking: · There was a suspicious-looking man standing in a doorway across the street.
use this to describe business deals or the people involved in them, when they seem dishonest or illegal, especially because the business is secret: · His acceptance of an interest-free £125,000 loan from a shady businessman looks suspicious to say the least.shady deal: · He has been mixed up in a number of shady deals in the Cayman Islands.
someone who is shifty looks or behaves as if they are doing or planning something dishonest: · There's something shifty about that guy.· a shifty, fast-talking lawyer
British informal probably dishonest, although you are not sure of the facts - use this especially to say that you do not want to be involved with someone or something: · Don't buy a car from him, he's a real dodgy character.· The whole thing looks distinctly dodgy to me.
use this about someone's behaviour or a business arrangement that does not seem completely right or correct, so that you think it is probably dishonest: · He had been involved in some questionable business activities at one time.· Marantz resigned after discovering that dubious business deals were being negotiated by his fellow officials.highly dubious/questionable: · The whole deal seems highly dubious to me.
informal use this about someone you think is doing or planning something dishonest, even though you do not know exactly what it is: · If you ask me, that husband of hers is up to no good.· Anyone waiting around on street corners at night must be up to no good.
not caring about something: don't think (that) · At first I didn't think that Jim was going to reply.· I don't think many people will come to the meeting, do you?don't think so · "Do we have any coffee left?'' "I don't think so -- I'll have a look.''· "Is Mr Brown there?'' "No, I don't think so, I saw him go out earlier.''
to think that something will probably not happen or is probably not true: doubt if/whether: · We'd better go to the party, but I doubt if it'll be very exciting.· I doubt whether I'll be able to find a decent car for the price I can afford. doubt (that): · Some people doubted that the attacks on the American ships had actually taken place.very much doubt/doubt very much: · I very much doubt whether we'll get someone for the job by September.seriously doubt: · At the time we seriously doubted that the doctor had got the diagnosis right.doubt it: · It was possible that Maggie had been delayed, but he doubted it.
if you are doubtful about something, you do not believe that it will happen or should be done: · Mick felt optimistic about going to work in Hong Kong, but Sue was doubtful.· My brother looked doubtful when I asked him if he'd mind looking after the baby.be doubtful about: · A lot of us felt doubtful about the project at the beginning.be doubtful (that): · The doctor said she was doubtful that antibiotics would work.it is doubtful whether/that/if: · It is doubtful that life could survive under such extreme conditions as these.
if you are dubious about something, you do not think it is a good idea or that it is true: · "Do you think they'll let us in?'' Gabby looked dubious.be dubious about: · Marian is still dubious about whether any of the government's "solutions" will work.
spoken say this when you think something is very unlikely to happen or is very unlikely to be true: · I'd be surprised if they get here in time for the show.· I'd be very surprised if Ronnie got the job -- he just doesn't have enough experience.
spoken say this when you think that something is unlikely to happen or be true, especially when you are not completely sure that you are right: I wouldn't have thought (that): · I wouldn't have thought that there would be much traffic on a Sunday morning.I wouldn't have thought so: · "Will John and Carmen be coming tonight?" "I wouldn't have thought so. They're very busy at the moment."
spoken use this in order to say politely that you think what someone has said is unlikely: · "I think Kate and Eddie will end up getting married." "Really? I'm not sure about that."
not sure if you should do something or if something is good or right to not be sure whether you should do something or whether it is good or right: · Peter promised that it was all for the best, but I still had doubts.have doubts about: · Any doubts Jo had about marrying him soon disappeared.have your doubts: · We had our doubts about the car's reliability from the start.
to feel that some things about a plan, idea etc are not good or right, so that you think there may be problems or difficulties: · I know you're very keen to move to the US, but I'm afraid I still have reservations.have reservations about: · Many teachers are likely to have reservations about the new tests.
to not be sure whether something is good or right, because you are worried about what will happen if it is done: · We didn't try to stop our son from joining the army, but we both had misgivings.have misgivings about: · Even the government's most loyal supporters have misgivings about changes to the education system.have serious misgivings (=be very unsure): · At the time, many doctors had serious misgivings about the new treatment.
to be unable to say that something is definitely good or right, because there are both good and bad things about it: · I have very mixed feelings -- I want to travel but I know I'll miss my family.have mixed feelings about: · She had mixed feelings about her daughter getting married so young.
to be not sure whether you should do something, because you can think of ways in which it could go wrong: · I was a bit dubious at first, but the water looked cool and inviting, so I dived in.be dubious about: · Most universities are dubious about accepting students over the age of 30.
someone who is hesitant is nervous or unsure about doing something, and therefore pauses before doing it or does it slowly and without confidence: · He was a little hesitant at first, but soon he had told her everything.hesitant about: · I was hesitant about approaching the boss directly.hesitant to do something: · It is not surprising that the government was hesitant to introduce such major reforms.
to not make a definite decision because you have doubts: waver between: · Maya wavered between accepting and refusing his offer.waver about: · If people have been wavering about giving the police information, this could be the thing to make them come forward.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The assumption that growth in one country benefits the whole world is highly dubious. ‘Are you sure you know what you are doing?’ Andy said, looking dubious. The Stephensons had the dubious honor of being the 100th family to lose their home in the fire.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The assumption that growth in one country benefits the whole world is highly dubious. ‘Are you sure you know what you are doing?’ Andy said, looking dubious. The Stephensons had the dubious honor of being the 100th family to lose their home in the fire. (=something that you are not sure that you should be proud of)· The city has the dubious honor of being the smoggiest city in the world.
(=used to suggest that something may have been stolen) artworks of doubtful provenance
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB artworks of doubtful provenance· Considering his own, highly dubious profession, Kirov had his own set of moral values.· Honest answers to these questions suggest that the general assumption that growth in one country benefits the entire world is highly dubious.· This means that many cylinder records surviving today have highly dubious provenances, as we shall see later.· Much of the wealth and property acquired by these people is highly dubious from a legal standpoint.
· This in itself is why the panda's survival is becoming more and more dubious every year.· There are more dubious politics than sensible economics in the budget deal negotiated by the White House and the Republican leadership.· Why, though, have other more dubious initiatives been received so favourably?· Others joined for even more dubious reasons.
· Unfortunately, there is no evidence to support this explanation, apart from some rather dubious circumstantial evidence.· It would have been a rather dubious double, as Garnett was making history.· The East Kilbride team adopted a religious theme coming dressed as priests and nuns and some nuns of a rather dubious order!· Both accepted what might have been regarded as a rather dubious honour.
· The death under somewhat dubious circumstances of a racehorse belonging to his son was frankly the least of his problems.· This suggests that theories linking football hooliganism to changes in working-class community life are based on a somewhat dubious history.
· Mirrors were still very dubious household items.· There are some very dubious practices and we want to put a stop to them.· Both of these ideas are very dubious.· The whole thing was, he had to admit, in very dubious taste.· Obviously genuine pieces, but of very dubious provenance.
NOUN· Czechoslovakia reached the quarter-finals on the dubious claim of one win and three draws.· Few teams can make that dubious claim.
· Sarah, left alone, had the dubious distinction of being the last of all the Titfords in Frome.
· I therefore inherited the dubious honour of making it available on loan to youth workers.· Snows Ride, a local thoroughfare, was in all probability named in his dubious honour.· Mr Edmond has the dubious honour of being tried by the District of Columbia's first anonymous jury.· Both accepted what might have been regarded as a rather dubious honour.
· A dubious pleasure because Jack, as in most of his activities, was unpredictable.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1probably not honest, true, right etc: - I therefore inherited the dubious honour of making it available on loan to youth workers.
- Mr Edmond has the dubious honour of being tried by the District of Columbia's first anonymous jury.
- Sarah, left alone, had the dubious distinction of being the last of all the Titfords in Frome.
The firm was accused of dubious accounting practices. Many critics regard this argument as dubious or, at best, misleading. The assumption that growth in one country benefits the whole world is highly dubious.2[not before noun] not sure whether something is good or true SYN doubtful: I can see you are dubious; take some time to think about it.dubious about Some universities are dubious about accepting students over the age of 30. ‘Are you sure you know what you are doing?’ Andy said, looking dubious.3the dubious honour/distinction/pleasure (of doing something) a dubious honour etc is the opposite of an honour – used about something unpleasant that happens: The Stephensons had the dubious honor of being the 100th family to lose their home in the fire.4not good or not of good quality: The room was decorated in dubious taste.—dubiously adverb—dubiousness noun [uncountable]