释义
[ dout -fuh l ] SHOW IPA
/ ˈdaʊt fəl / PHONETIC RESPELLING
SEE SYNONYMS FOR doubtful ON THESAURUS.COM
adjective of uncertain outcome or result.
admitting of or causing doubt; uncertain; ambiguous.
unsettled in opinion or belief; undecided; hesitating.
of equivocal or questionable character: His tactics are highly doubtful.
Origin of doubtful First recorded in 1350–1400, doubtful is from the Middle English word douteful. See doubt, -ful
SYNONYMS FOR doubtful 1 undetermined, unsettled, indecisive, dubious, problematic.
2 unsure, indeterminate.
3 irresolute, vacillating, hesitant.
4 shady.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR doubtful ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR doubtful SEE ANTONYMS FOR doubtful ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for doubtful 3 . Doubtful, dubious, incredulous, skeptical imply reluctance or unwillingness to be convinced. To be doubtful about something is to feel that it is open to question or that more evidence is needed to prove it: to be doubtful about the statements of witnesses. Dubious implies vacillation, unsureness, or suspicion: dubious about suggested methods of manufacture. Incredulous means unwilling or reluctant to believe: incredulous at the good news. Skeptical implies a general disposition to doubt or question: skeptical of human progress.
usage note for doubtful See doubt.
OTHER WORDS FROM doubtful doubt·ful·ly, adverb doubt·ful·ness, noun pre·doubt·ful, adjective pre·doubt·ful·ly, adverb
quasi-doubtful, adjective qua·si-doubt·ful·ly, adverb un·doubt·ful, adjective un·doubt·ful·ly, adverb un·doubt·ful·ness, noun
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Words nearby doubtful doublure, doubly, doubly armed suture, Doubs, doubt, doubtful , doubting Thomas, doubtless, douc, douce, douceperes
Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for doubtful It, also, shows that you would not take credit for marketing activities that were already going on, and so removes another fear that could make the customer doubtful .
SEO proposals: Particular challenges and how to avoid getting a silent no | SEOmonitor| September 10, 2020| Search Engine Watch
It is doubtful that any Churchill-like figure—were one available—could thrive.
Boris Johnson’s Churchill Man Crush | Michael F. Bishop| November 22, 2014| DAILY BEAST
Whether the vote in a rump referendum over the weekend genuinely reflected public opinion in the eastern-most regions is doubtful .
Ukraine’s Fighting Words | Igor Kossov| May 13, 2014| DAILY BEAST
But it is doubtful anyone will ever prove who poisoned Arafat, if poisoned he was.
Arafat’s Polonium Poisoning Mystery Resurfaces | Christopher Dickey| November 7, 2013| DAILY BEAST
It's doubtful that they have any serious political disagreements.
Setting the Record Straight on a Meretz Scandal | Ralph Seliger| July 17, 2013| DAILY BEAST
It's doubtful there would have been enough fortification and firepower under any circumstances.
Truth, Justice and Benghazi | Christopher Dickey| May 17, 2013| DAILY BEAST
Some are doubtful about the last lines, but the word "promise" had a jubilant musical rhythm in my head.
Juliana Horatia Ewing And Her Books | Horatia K. F. Eden
I was doubtful about it after I had watched Sir Henry for a whole morning on the bench.
Christopher Quarles | Percy James Brebner
If this produced any effect, which is doubtful , it was but temporary.
A History of the Inquisition of Spain; vol. 4 | Henry Charles Lea
It was doubtful whether he loved Amy, in the true sense of exclusive desire.
New Grub Street | George Gissing
Though Palestine abounds in flowers, it is doubtful whether the Rose of our gardens is alluded to in the Bible.
Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics | Richard Folkard
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British Dictionary definitions for doubtful adjective unlikely; improbable
characterized by or causing doubt; uncertain a doubtful answer
unsettled; unresolved
of questionable reputation or morality
having reservations or misgivings
(of a sportsperson) not likely to be fit enough to play or take part
SEE MORE SEE LESS noun a person who is undecided or uncertain about an issue
a sportsperson who is not likely to be fit enough to play or take part
Derived forms of doubtful doubtfully , adverb doubtfulness , noun usage for doubtful It was formerly considered correct to use whether after doubtful (it is doubtful whether he will come), but now if and that are also acceptable
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Words related to doubtful indecisive, unsure, problematic, insecure, suspicious, precarious, dubious, uneasy, unstable, hazy, undecided, unsettled, uncertain, dicey, debatable, skeptical, hesitant, tentative, puzzled, unconvinced