1
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
any letter bearing the signature of Geronimo would be of dubious authenticity, to say the least
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
I'm dubious about our plan to go hang gliding without having had any training
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3
as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur
made the dubious claim of being of royal blood
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4
as in skeptical
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
dubious about a diet that claims I can eat all I want and still lose weight
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dubious
The last team to accomplish this dubious distinction was the Pirates in 1924.
—
Ryan Deto, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025
Oz has a history of endorsing dubious and often controversial products and treatments, blurring the lines between celebrity pitchman and medical doctor.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
The most famous and most dubious divorce statistic holds that half of all marriages end in divorce.
—Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Some onlookers are also dubious that the change will make HHS more adept at rooting out fraud, waste and abuse.
—Maya Goldman, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dubious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dubious
Adjective
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Wiggins was listed as questionable on the injury report before being upgraded to available.—
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Tatum came into this contest listed as questionable.—
Adjective
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But some patients there are reluctant to be tested for measles, limiting abilities to capture the full scale and epidemiology of the outbreak.—
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Many corporate leaders have thus far been reluctant to openly criticize the Trump Administration's agenda.—
Adjective
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But with Trump’s overt hostility to all things IRA, scale-up is unlikely.—
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And while Tarantino would be unlikely to direct a film for Netflix given his insistence on theatrical exclusivity, the streaming service is Fincher’s longtime home.—
Adjective
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But economists are skeptical that these tariffs can bring in as much as Mr. Trump claims, as consumers will likely reduce their spending on foreign goods when prices go up.—
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Countries across the region are justifiably skeptical of any U.S. attempt to define the boundaries of their relationships with other powers.—
Adjective
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Initially, many older women are hesitant to attempt these higher-impact movements due to osteopenia or osteoporosis.—
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Many students were hesitant at first, sticking to manual methods.—
Adjective
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Anyone who was at either of the Grapevine locations March 28-30 and is unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status is at risk of contracting measles, Tarrant officials said.—
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But with how Trump’s plans are ever-changing, Metzgar is unsure if anything will remain a safe bet.—
Adjective
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At least 11 cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea within 15 months, the alliance heavily suspicious of Russian influence.—
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The incident is being investigated by the San Diego County Sheriff’s homicide unit because authorities found the nature of the death to be suspicious, Lt. Juan Márquez said.—
Adjective
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Cunningham, meanwhile, was doubtful to suit up through a left calf contusion.—
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One day after being listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns with a left ankle sprain, Tatum was upgraded to questionable.—
Cite this Entry
“Dubious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dubious. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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