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doubtful - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'doubtful' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Doubtful [ a.]
- Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating in belief; also used, metaphorically, of the body when its action is affected by such a state of mind; as, we are doubtful of a fact, or of the propriety of a measure.
- Admitting of doubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable; not decided; not easy to be defined, classed, or named; as, a doubtful case, hue, claim, title, species, and the like.
- Characterized by ambiguity; dubious; as, a doubtful expression; a doubtful phrase.
- Of uncertain issue or event.
- Fearful; apprehensive; suspicious.

Meaning of 'doubtful' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . doubtful [ s]
Meaning (1):
- unsettled in mind or opinion
Example in sentence:
  • drew a few tentative conclusions
Meaning (2):
- fraught with uncertainty or doubt
Example in sentence:
  • dubious about agreeing to go;
  • it was doubtful whether she would be admitted;
  • they were doubtful that the cord would hold
Meaning (3):
- open to doubt or suspicion
Example in sentence:
  • he has a dubious record indeed;
  • it was more than dubitable whether the friend was as influential as she thought;
  • the candidate's doubtful past;
  • what one found uncertain the other found dubious or downright false

Nearby Words:

dou/ted douane douanier douar douay bible doub grass double double dealer double dealing double first

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