arouse doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

"arouse doubt" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has caused people to question or to doubt something else. For example: "His suspicious behavior aroused doubts among his coworkers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This causes everyone upset and these NGOs arouse doubt and mistrust among the residents of Lesbos.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Even mighty Berkshire Hathaway, Warren E. Buffett's Triple-A rated company whose largest business is insurance, seems to arouse doubts.

The New York Times

The study of BCLC group was carried out in a long period and only 3 cases per year were evaluated, which aroused doubt about their experience and also indicated that the risk for misdiagnosis is only less than 3/year [ 21].

BioMed Research International

Mr. Humala's family has also aroused doubts among some voters, especially over whether his recent distancing from Venezuela is merely cosmetic.

The New York Times

Furthermore, the impressive disequilibria observed in recent decades in the financial, oil, and real estate markets have naturally aroused doubts as to the inevitability of the "balanced growth path" described by Solow and Kuznets, according to whom all key economic variables are supposed to move at the same pace.

Harvard University

Dr. Fox, a Scottish physician, had aroused doubts when he traveled to Afghanistan soon after the new government took office last month and said Britain was in Afghanistan to defeat Islamic extremists there so they could not mount new attacks in Britain, not for the purpose of rebuilding what he called "a broken 13th-century country".

The New York Times

In Finland, the context market of this study, aging energy grids, the increasing load on supply and distribution networks, political claims for energy autonomy and in particular the threats caused by the changing climate and extreme weather have aroused doubts and concrete problems concerning the reliance on electricity production.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Consequently, these data have aroused doubts and criticisms in the scientific community about the value of tumor marker-guided follow-up also in case of BC [ 56].

BioMed Research International

6. Nothing that can be sexually arousing!! (I doubt many people could get aroused with the pic above but those puritanical guys at Apple must get off on pretty mundane things to find Wobble "overtly sexual!). 7.

TechCrunch

And, while that may arouse doubts, there is something — after so many volumes of assault from Cabinet officers, image polishers, and other satraps — incidentally moving about this book; far from being a definitive history, it is instead a fascinating gesture of friendship sustained and maintained.

The New Yorker

In fact they have purposely avoided the topic throughout the trial because they realize it's the one mystery that arouses reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "arouse doubt" when you want to indicate that something has caused uncertainty or questioning. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, repeatedly using "arouse doubt" in casual conversation can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "make you wonder" or "raise questions" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arouse doubt" functions as a verb phrase where "arouse" acts as a transitive verb requiring an object ("doubt"). This phrase indicates the action of causing or creating a feeling of uncertainty or skepticism. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's perfectly correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "arouse doubt" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that signifies causing or creating uncertainty or skepticism. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. It appears frequently in news, science, and academic contexts, and while versatile, it can sound slightly formal in casual conversation. For alternative expressions, consider options such as "raise suspicions" or "cast suspicion" to convey similar meanings with subtle differences. Use "arouse doubt" when precision and a slightly elevated tone are desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raise suspicions

Focuses on creating a feeling of distrust or skepticism.

cast suspicion

Highlights the act of directing doubt towards something or someone.

prompt uncertainty

Highlights the action of causing a state of being unsure.

create uncertainty

Focuses on the action of making something unsure.

instill skepticism

Emphasizes the act of gradually introducing a feeling of doubt.

generate distrust

Indicates the creation of a lack of trust.

spark questioning

Implies initiating a process of inquiry and doubt.

invite skepticism

Suggests a situation that naturally leads to doubt.

foster disbelief

Emphasizes encouraging a lack of belief.

plant seeds of doubt

Suggests subtly introducing doubt into someone's mind.

FAQs

How can I use "arouse doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "arouse doubt" to indicate that something is causing uncertainty. For example, "His conflicting statements "arouse doubt" about his honesty."

What can I say instead of "arouse doubt"?

You can use alternatives like "raise suspicions", "prompt uncertainty", or "cast suspicion" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "raise doubt" or "arouse doubt"?

While both "raise doubt" and "arouse doubt" are acceptable, "arouse doubt" often implies a stronger sense of causing uncertainty or suspicion. "Raise doubt" is generally more common.

What does it mean to say something "arouses reasonable doubt"?

To say something "arouses reasonable doubt" means it presents enough uncertainty to question the validity of a claim or belief. This is frequently used in legal contexts.