dubious interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dubious interest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a type of interest that is questionable or not entirely genuine, often implying skepticism about the motives behind that interest. Example: "The investor's dubious interest in the startup raised concerns among the founders about his true intentions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Given interior design's dubious interest in contemporary art, and abstract painting in particular, the perversity was noted and enjoyed.

The New York Times

In a measure of how no issue is too small for him, he recently headed out to Long Island to address what some of his colleagues here might regard as a matter of dubious interest for a member of the United States Senate: goose droppings in a popular town park.

The New York Times

"Someone, I guess a stock promoter with a dubious interest, is disseminating wrong, false and misleading info in the PR circles".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

What Are They? > The Securities & Exchange Commission just won a consent court order against Las Vegas-based Countryland Wellness Resorts, which, we noted here (June 12), had reported selling $2.7 billion of dubious mining interests to the equally dubious Dominion of Melchizedek.

Forbes

This is the same Taban Deng Gai who, in a previous life, oversaw dubious SPLA interests at a camp where Machot had been placed as a young orphan.

Vice

Back in 1976 a young professor in Bangladesh starting making dubious low-interest loans to the rural poor of his country.

Huffington Post

In case it does not, the law allows the authorities to tap suspects' phones and intercept their e-mails.While the world's competition authorities are now coming down hard on anti-competitive behaviour, they have over the years clouded the issue by granting exemptions to some industries' price-fixing agreements, on often-dubious public-interest grounds.

The Economist

In this world, financial bubbles matter, capital flows are of dubious merit, low interest rates fail to stimulate growth and government spending becomes the only tool with real traction to spur economic activity.

The New York Times

Linebacker Manti Te'o isn't the only man with a dubious online love interest.

Huffington Post

"You can have all kinds of dubious preferences and interests, but that does not mean that you act upon it.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

For example: "You can have all kinds of dubious preferences and interests, but that does not mean that you act upon it.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dubious interest", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the interest questionable. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "dubious interest" when you simply mean "lack of interest". "Dubious interest" implies active but suspicious engagement, not absence of engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dubious interest" functions primarily as a descriptive term, modifying a noun with an adjective to indicate that the interest is questionable or suspect. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dubious interest" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe a questionable or suspicious concern or involvement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English, with the caution that it implies an active, albeit suspect, engagement, rather than an absence of interest. Its most common usage is within news and media, scientific and business contexts. Alternatives like "questionable concern" or "suspicious attention" can provide nuanced variations. When employing "dubious interest", ensure that the context clearly outlines the reasons behind the skepticism to enhance the impact and clarity of your writing. Ludwig's analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of this phrase's usage and alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dubious attention

Focuses specifically on the attention aspect of the interest as being suspect or questionable.

questionable concern

Replaces "interest" with "concern", focusing on the aspect of worry or attention that is doubtful.

suspicious attention

Substitutes "interest" with "attention", emphasizing the scrutiny or observation that raises suspicion.

suspect concern

Highlights the concern as being untrustworthy or potentially misleading.

uncertain involvement

Replaces "interest" with "involvement", highlighting the ambiguous or hesitant participation.

questionable motive

Shifts the focus to the underlying reason for the interest, suggesting it's not genuine.

shady motive

Implies that the reason behind the interest is dishonorable or unethical.

tenuous link

Indicates a weak or fragile connection, instead of a concrete interest.

questionable investment

Changes "interest" to "investment", suggesting a financial involvement that is doubtful or high-risk.

uncertain stake

Suggests that the level of involvement or investment is doubtful or not clearly defined.

FAQs

How can "dubious interest" be used in a sentence?

You can use "dubious interest" to describe someone's concern or attention that seems questionable, as in "The investor's "dubious interest" in the company raised some eyebrows".

What are some alternatives to "dubious interest"?

Alternatives include "questionable concern", "suspicious attention", or "uncertain involvement", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "dubious interest" formal or informal?

"Dubious interest" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but its impact depends on the surrounding language. In very formal settings, alternatives like "suspect concern" may be preferred.

What's the difference between "dubious interest" and "lack of interest"?

"Dubious interest" implies an existing interest that is questionable, while "lack of interest" indicates that there is no interest at all. They are not interchangeable.