doubtful feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

"doubtful feeling" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a sense of uncertainty or hesitation about something. Example: She had a doubtful feeling about the decision they were making. Alternative expressions include "uncertain feeling," "hesitant feeling," and "skeptical feeling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is not a state to be safely entered into with doubtful feelings, with half a heart.

The Guardian - Books

Frantic bloggers blasted bulletins: "Only five hours and 28 minutes left for Ike's!" Followed later by, "Ike's saved!" Terry Connelly, Dean of the Ageno School of Business at Golden Gate University, said the city had long had a reputation for doubtful feelings toward new businesses.

The New York Times

On Saturday at Upton Park they might well be boosted by the return from injury of central defender Brede Hangeland but striker Dimitar Berbatov is doubtful after feeling unwell.

Independent

Ellis has been feeling doubtful about his own allegiance to the Conservative party for some time.

The Guardian

If you're feeling doubtful, you have someone at the end of the phone who you know will respect you.

The Guardian

If you find yourself feeling doubtful or overwhelmed, be reassured that it comes with the territory and such feelings are an essential part of critical analysis and reflective practice.

The Guardian

It was a new relationship and an important production, opening the Met's season (it returns there next month), and Devlin wanted the set to be perfect, but she was feeling doubtful.

The New Yorker

And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.

The Guardian

That's the question on investors' minds after the company posted a 70.0% rise in quarterly profit, but left investors feeling doubtful it can stay on its better-than-expected path.

Forbes

I darted through the crowd, feeling doubtful.

Huffington Post

Other stories, already uploaded to MyDebtStory.com, tell a very different tale, of students feeling doubtful of the value of their debt, and hopeless about paying it back.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the plural form "doubtful feelings" if the hesitation stems from multiple conflicting thoughts or complex situations.

Common error

Do not confuse the noun phrase "doubtful feeling" with the verbal construction "feeling doubtful". Use the former when referring to the sensation as an object (e.g. "A doubtful feeling crept over her") and the latter when describing the subject's state (e.g. "She was feeling doubtful").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doubtful feeling" functions as a compound noun phrase consisting of an attributive adjective and a common noun. While Ludwig shows that the plural form or the inverted verbal structure is more statistically frequent, the singular noun phrase remains a standard way to objectify a specific emotion. It typically acts as the direct object of verbs like 'have', 'experience' or 'shake'.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the exact singular phrase "doubtful feeling" appeared less frequently in the direct matches of the provided search data than its plural or verbal counterparts, it is a grammatically correct and natural expression in English. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, particularly in narrative storytelling and high-level journalism. It effectively captures the subjective experience of skepticism. Writers should distinguish it from the more common verbal phrase "feeling doubtful" which focuses on the person rather than the emotion itself. Whether you are describing a character in a novel or an investor's reaction to a market shift, this phrase provides a clear and professional way to denote a lack of confidence or certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uncertain feeling

Suggests a lack of clarity or predictability rather than outright skepticism

skeptical feeling

Implies a more active inclination to disbelieve or question a claim

sense of doubt

Uses a more formal noun construction to describe the presence of hesitation

hesitant feeling

Focuses on the resulting delay in action or decision-making

dubious feeling

Carries a stronger connotation that the subject is potentially dishonest or unreliable

feeling of uncertainty

A more expanded prepositional version often used for emphasis in formal writing

wavering feeling

Highlights the internal fluctuation between believing and doubting

suspicious feeling

Suggests a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is being untruthful

ambiguous feeling

Describes a feeling that is open to more than one interpretation

unclear feeling

A simpler way to describe an emotion that the speaker cannot fully define

FAQs

How to use "doubtful feeling" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object to describe an internal state, for example: "Despite the positive data, he couldn't shake a "doubtful feeling" about the project's success."

What can I say instead of "doubtful feeling"?

Depending on the context, you might use "uncertain feeling", "sense of doubt", or "skeptical feeling".

Which is more common: "doubtful feeling" or "feeling doubtful"?

In most contexts, especially in informal speech and news reporting, "feeling doubtful" is more common as it functions as a predicate adjective describing a person's current state.

Is "doubtful feeling" formal enough for academic writing?

While correct, academic writing often prefers more precise terms such as "skepticism", "uncertainty", or "ambiguity".