doubtful

Study(20)

/ˈdaʊtfəl/

adj 5noun 1

Collocations

(adj.) feeling doubt

VERBS

be, feel, look, seem, sound

She seemed doubtful about whether the old car would actually start.

become | remain

ADV

extremely, very | a bit, a little, rather

PREP

about

I'm doubtful about whether we should trust that website for our research project.

(adj.) unlikely

VERBS

be, look, seem | remain

ADV

extremely, highly, very

Whether that restaurant is still open is extremely doubtful after the fire last month.

increasingly | a bit, a little, rather, somewhat

Definitions

adj

Subject to, or causing doubt.

Experiencing or showing doubt, skeptical.

Undecided or of uncertain outcome.

Fearsome, dreadful.

Improbable or unlikely.

noun

A doubtful person or thing.

They had their lists of Liberals and of the doubtfuls who still remained doubtful. As the election drew near, the force of the whole organization was turned upon these unrepentant doubtfuls.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adjective — fraught with uncertainty or doubt

dubious

adjective — open to doubt or suspicion

dubious
dubitable

adjective — unsettled in mind or opinion

tentative

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

Yet it is not the predominant views of the experts but the views of a minority, mostly of rather doubtful standing in their profession, which are taken up and spread by the intellectuals.

Wiktionary

The pupils of her great eyes were large in the doubtful lamplight, swallowing their green fires in deep pools of mystery and darkness.

Wiktionary

They had their lists of Liberals and of the doubtfuls who still remained doubtful. As the election drew near, the force of the whole organization was turned upon these unrepentant doubtfuls.

Wiktionary

One thing remains doubtful.

Tatoeba · #20041

I'm doubtful about what I ought to do.

Tatoeba · #24736

It is doubtful whether Bill will come.

Tatoeba · #34582

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, doubtful is marked as obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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