feel dubious about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feel dubious about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing uncertainty or skepticism regarding a particular situation, idea, or statement. Example: "I feel dubious about the effectiveness of this new marketing strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is easy to feel dubious about whether this optimistic vision of the transformative power of dance will take off in London, which remains at heart reserved and staid in character.

The New York Times

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has vowed to crack down on Republican filibusters several times with no effect, so it's hard not to feel dubious about his latest threat to change Senate rules if Republicans continue to block President Obama's nominations.

The New York Times

Citizens may not care all that much about where a farm subsidy goes, but they will expect a clear explanation of why their planes are dropping bombs and who is giving the orders.If governments still feel dubious about acknowledging the full role of the EU in national life, they should remind themselves of the line all of them peddled when they first got into the European game.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

My own reason for not, in the end, doing so was that I knew myself to be too frivolous for the necessary commitment, and there was also a streak of something more respectable in my motive: I felt dubious about ends justifying means, which I took to be an important part of Communist thinking.

The Guardian - Books

Nonetheless, there is something about Extremely Loud that does indeed feel dubious.

The Guardian - Film

Hill says: "But I want the poem to have this dubious end; because I feel dubious; and the whole business is dubious".

The Guardian - Books

Feeling dubious, I wandered over to the kitchen tent.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Timbuktu's appellation as a city feels dubious.

The Guardian

It's easy to feel somewhat dubious about reviewing art made for children, especially when you're not accompanied by a trusty, underage sidekick.

The New York Times

And if we feel a little dubious about that much self-reflection, well, Kaia would doubtless agree with Philip Roth that the goal of the artist who writes, or shows, herself is not self-glorification but self-knowledge, even if that knowledge is, as Kaia has learned, that you can always spin out one more self.

The New Yorker

First, the local presence of the referee doctor could make CHWs feel more confident about dubious cases, as they knew that the doctor could correct their errors later; second, in dubious cases, CHWs may have felt under pressure from families or communities to restrain from sending the patient to the hospital [ 27].

Human Resources for Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel dubious about" to express a sense of uncertainty or skepticism towards a specific idea, plan, or statement. It is appropriate when you want to convey a mild level of doubt without being overly critical.

Common error

While "feel dubious about" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your tone sound less professional. Opt for stronger, more direct expressions of doubt like "question the validity of" in academic or business settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel dubious about" functions as an expression of subjective assessment or opinion, indicating a sense of doubt or uncertainty regarding something. Ludwig examples show it is used to convey a mild level of skepticism without strong negativity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feel dubious about" is a grammatically sound way to express uncertainty or mild skepticism. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suggests alternative phrases like "feel skeptical about" or "feel uncertain about". While "feel dubious about" is suitable for general use, remember that stronger, more formal expressions may be better in academic or professional contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel skeptical about

Replaces "dubious" with "skeptical", indicating a questioning attitude.

feel doubtful about

Uses "doubtful" instead of "dubious", indicating uncertainty.

feel uncertain about

Uses "uncertain" instead of "dubious", suggesting a lack of sureness.

have reservations about

Changes the structure to "have reservations", implying hesitations.

feel apprehensive about

Emphasizes a sense of anxiety or unease about something.

feel uneasy about

Focuses on discomfort or lack of peace regarding something.

feel suspicious about

Suggests distrust or a belief that something is wrong.

question the validity of

Shifts to questioning the truth or accuracy of something.

lack confidence in

Indicates a deficiency in assurance or certainty.

harbor doubts regarding

Implies holding onto uncertainties about something.

FAQs

How can I use "feel dubious about" in a sentence?

You can use "feel dubious about" to express uncertainty or skepticism. For example, "I "feel dubious about" the accuracy of the report".

What's a more formal alternative to "feel dubious about"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "express reservations about" or "question the validity of" to maintain a professional tone.

Is it grammatically correct to say "feel dubious about"?

Yes, "feel dubious about" is grammatically correct. The structure "feel" + adjective + "about" is a common and accepted way to express a feeling or opinion.

What's the difference between "feel dubious about" and "feel suspicious about"?

"Feel dubious about" implies uncertainty or mild doubt, while "feel suspicious about" suggests a stronger sense of distrust or belief that something is wrong or dishonest.