SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
dubious
adjective
Uncertain or doubtful; also questionable in reliability or value.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Uncertain or unconvinced
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topSuspicious suggests a reason to distrust; dubious can express simple lack of conviction.
Questionable in reliability
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topFishy and shady are informal; dubious does not establish that something is false or dishonest.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See dubious in use
The reviewer remained dubious about the unsupported estimate.
One apparently helpful recollection became dubious when the dates did not agree. The archivist described that inconsistency without accusing the collector of dishonesty, since a mistaken memory could also explain the problem.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license