dubious

USAGE SUMMARY

"dubious" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use "dubious" to describe something that you are uncertain about or something that seems unlikely. It implies doubt. Example sentence: He had a dubious expression on his face when she suggested the plan.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Neither will Ben Bernanke, the current chairman of the Fed, whose term ends in January and who earlier pleaded a dubious "scheduling conflict".

The Guardian - Opinion

Collins said a picture was emerging of Savile as a risk-taker and an opportunist who surrounded himself with dubious characters.

The Guardian

"There is a risk that an all-or-nothing approach and the highlighting of dubious cases to prominent news outlets and journalists will preclude legitimate claims from being fairly treated.

The Guardian - Tech

"[Social services minister] Scott Morrison's claims around the impact of his child care changes to workforce participation are dubious at best," acting shadow early childhood minister Jenny Macklin said.

The Guardian

But walk away from the cafes churning out chalga (Bulgaria's dubious gift to pop music), and as the buildings thin out there is no one but yoga enthusiasts and naked men playing chess.

The Guardian - Travel

The methodology behind this claim was also dubious as it derived from a 2002 study that extrapolated from the number of cameras spotted on two streets in Wandsworth in London.

The Guardian

Dubious parenting: the opposite, as Elena tells him: "If I'd known you were gonna grow up to be a grown-up... " Steady on seven.

The Guardian

Cameron's mandate among the UK's "family of nations" – to use his own term from the Scottish independence referendum campaign – is dubious at best.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fellow Iona patron Professor Patricia Casey was publicly rebuked on two separate occasions last year for misusing research from both Uppsala University and UNICEF to reach the same dubious conclusion, prompting UNICEF Ireland's executive director Melanie Verwoerd to slam Casey's spin as "incorrect and unacceptable".

The Guardian

Although the state of the economy remains difficult to ascertain beyond dubious official figures, huge sums are lost to corruption.

The Guardian

The Labour belief that Ukip is causing disproportionate damage to the Conservatives looks increasingly dubious.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dubious" to express a sense of uncertainty or skepticism towards a claim, action, or situation. It implies a lack of conviction or belief in something's truth or reliability.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on the word "dubious" in academic or professional contexts. While it's acceptable, consider stronger synonyms like "questionable" or "uncertain" to convey a more precise level of skepticism or doubt.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dubious" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is questionable, uncertain, or not to be relied upon. Ludwig examples show its use in describing claims, practices, and distinctions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dubious" functions as an adjective used to express skepticism or uncertainty about something's truth or reliability. Ludwig AI shows that it appears most commonly in News & Media sources. While generally considered grammatically correct, careful consideration of context and stronger synonyms might be necessary for certain writing styles. When you aim to convey a sense of doubt, suspicion or question, consider using "dubious".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

questionable

Indicates uncertainty and raises doubts about the validity or honesty of something.

doubtful

Suggests uncertainty or disbelief regarding a particular fact or situation.

suspicious

Implies a belief that someone or something is potentially dishonest or dangerous.

uncertain

Conveys a lack of sureness or confidence about something.

unlikely

Indicates a low probability of something happening or being true.

implausible

Suggests that something is difficult to believe or accept.

tenuous

Describes something with a weak or fragile basis.

equivocal

Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.

debatable

Open to discussion or argument; not clearly decided.

problematic

Presenting a problem or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "dubious" in a sentence?

You can use "dubious" to describe something that seems questionable or uncertain. For example, "He presented a "dubious claim" about his past accomplishments" or "The company's accounting practices seemed highly "dubious"".

What words are similar to "dubious"?

Alternatives to "dubious" include "doubtful", "questionable", "suspicious", and "uncertain". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "dubious" or "doubtful"?

While both "dubious" and "doubtful" express uncertainty, "dubious" often suggests a stronger sense of skepticism or suspicion. Use "dubious" when you want to imply that something is not only uncertain but also potentially untrustworthy. "Doubtful" might be preferred in situations that refer to the state of the mind, like "I'm doubtful about that".

What's the difference between "dubious" and "ambiguous"?

"Dubious" suggests something is questionable or unreliable, while "ambiguous" means something is unclear or open to multiple interpretations. A "dubious" claim might be one you don't trust, whereas an "ambiguous" statement could simply be unclear in its meaning.