engendering doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "engendering doubt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of causing uncertainty or skepticism about something. Example: "The politician's contradictory statements were engendering doubt among the voters regarding his integrity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But some defenders of evolution said the amendment was intended to engender doubt in students about what most biologists accept as fact: that evolution occurs, even if there is debate about how and why.

The New York Times

China's amoral and selfish behavior increasingly engenders doubt and fear, not respect.

Huffington Post

When women and farmworkers speak up about wage theft, unsafe working conditions, or sexual assault and domestic violence, the enduring patriarchy and sexism endemic to U.S. workplace culture engender doubt, often spoken but too often insidiously unspoken.

Huffington Post

McCain gave a speech on the Senate floor, supporting the President's nomination of John Bolton to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, after that nomination engendered doubts even among some Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The New Yorker

Double-blind experiments, designed to create conditions of privacy and anonymity, may engender doubts in subjects regarding the existence of pairings and the disposition of any money they share.

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

"The museum is extraordinarily fortunate to have their untiring support, engendered no doubt by their empathetic and enthusiastic engagement with the arts.

Huffington Post

The impact of non-Christian Aristotelian and Arabic philosophy engendered fears, doubts, and suspicions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Megan's doubt engendered by the "Death Penalty for Fags" sign grew.

The New Yorker

Doubt engenders practice.

Huffington Post

Their shock at hearing the crimes of the leadership thus publicly exposed engendered a mood of doubt and gathering disbelief that ultimately tore down the whole structure of Lenin's imposed ideology.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Kalman's work engenders great affection, no doubt.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "engendering doubt" when you want to emphasize that something is actively causing uncertainty or skepticism, not just passively allowing it to exist. For example, "The new evidence is "engendering doubt" about the original verdict."

Common error

Avoid using "engendering doubt" when you mean simply that doubt exists. "Engendering" implies a causal action; if the doubt isn't being actively created, a different phrase may be more appropriate. For example, instead of "The situation was engendering doubt", consider "The situation was doubtful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "engendering doubt" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of causing or creating a state of uncertainty or skepticism. It is an active process where something or someone is actively making others question or lack confidence in something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "engendering doubt" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the action of actively causing uncertainty or skepticism. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. It is most frequently found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. While versatile, ensure the situation truly involves a causal relationship where something is actively creating the doubt, rather than simply describing a state of doubt. Alternatives like "raising suspicions" or "instilling skepticism" may be more suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Giving rise to doubt

A more formal way of saying 'causing doubt'.

Instilling skepticism

Focuses more directly on the result of causing doubt, using 'skepticism' which implies a more critical form of doubt.

Breeding distrust

Suggests that doubt can lead to a more profound and pervasive lack of trust.

Raising suspicions

Suggests the creation of a cautious distrust, implying potential wrongdoing or hidden motives.

Fostering disbelief

Implies a more active cultivation of doubt, almost encouraging a lack of belief.

Sparking uncertainty

Suggests a sudden and immediate onset of doubt.

Creating uncertainty

A broader term that encompasses doubt but also includes general unpredictability.

Sowing seeds of doubt

An idiomatic expression that suggests subtly introducing doubt into a situation.

Promoting question

Focuses on stimulating inquiry rather than necessarily creating disbelief.

Generating apprehension

Focuses on causing worry or anxiety, which can be a consequence of doubt.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "engendering doubt" in a sentence?

You can replace "engendering doubt" with phrases like "raising suspicions", "instilling skepticism", or "creating uncertainty", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "engendering doubt" formal or informal?

"Engendering doubt" is generally considered neutral to formal. Simpler alternatives like "causing doubt" may be more appropriate in informal contexts.

What does it mean for something to be "engendering doubt"?

If something is "engendering doubt", it means it is actively causing uncertainty or skepticism in someone's mind. It suggests a process of creating doubt where it may not have previously existed.

What is the difference between "engendering doubt" and "being doubtful"?

"Engendering doubt" describes the action of causing doubt, while "being doubtful" describes a state of mind or a characteristic of a situation. For example, "His actions are engendering doubt" versus "The outcome is doubtful".