highly doubtful

USAGE SUMMARY

"highly doubtful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is unlikely or will probably not happen. For example: "It's highly doubtful that I'll get the promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Highly doubtful.

The New York Times

But that's highly doubtful.

The New York Times

That is highly doubtful.

The Guardian - Business

"Highly doubtful". Case closed.

The New York Times - Arts

That outcome is highly doubtful.

The Washington Post

It's highly doubtful this option exists.

The New York Times

But this judgment is highly doubtful.

The New York Times - Books

Also, whether the scheme is widely accepted is highly doubtful.

Habitat International

It seems highly doubtful that they will stop now.

The New Yorker

Actual evidence in this regard is highly doubtful.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is also highly doubtful whether it can be successful.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For impact, position "highly doubtful" at the beginning or end of a sentence.

Common error

While "highly doubtful" is effective, avoid using it repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language with synonyms like "unlikely", "improbable", or "questionable" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

Highly doubtful functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to express a strong degree of skepticism or disbelief. It is often used to cast doubt on the likelihood of an event or the veracity of a claim. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Highly doubtful" is a commonly used adjective phrase to express significant skepticism or disbelief. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It is versatile enough for formal and informal contexts, appearing frequently in news media, science, and business writing. While useful, varying your language with synonyms like "very improbable" or "extremely unlikely" can improve writing. When using "highly doubtful", consider its position in the sentence for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very improbable

Emphasizes the low probability of something happening.

extremely unlikely

Highlights the low chance of an event occurring.

scarcely believable

Focuses on the difficulty in accepting something as true.

hard to imagine

Suggests a difficulty in conceiving of something as possible.

not likely at all

Directly states the low likelihood of something.

remote possibility

Indicates that something is possible, but only barely.

open to question

Suggests that the validity or truth of something is not certain.

dubious

Implies uncertainty or suspicion about something.

questionable

Raises doubts about the validity or appropriateness of something.

I have my doubts

Expresses personal skepticism about something.

FAQs

How can I use "highly doubtful" in a sentence?

You can use "highly doubtful" to express strong skepticism about a future event or a present situation. For example, "It's highly doubtful that the project will be completed on time."

What are some alternatives to "highly doubtful"?

You can use alternatives like "very improbable", "extremely unlikely", or "scarcely believable" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it more appropriate to use "highly doubtful" in formal or informal writing?

"Highly doubtful" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Its level of formality is neutral, making it appropriate for various contexts.

What is the difference between "doubtful" and "highly doubtful"?

While both express uncertainty, "highly doubtful" conveys a stronger sense of disbelief or skepticism compared to simply "doubtful". "Highly doubtful" suggests that something is very unlikely to happen or be true.