met with doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

"met with doubt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a situation where a person's words, opinions, or actions were met with suspicion or disbelief. For example: "The new athlete's claim of having run a mile in four minutes was met with doubt by the other players."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Smollett expressed frustration that his story was being met with doubt.

The New York Times - Arts

This is the world athletics now inhabits, where every stupendous performance is met with doubt.

The Guardian - Sport

DRMM's simple designs at first met with doubt in the town.

The Guardian - Arts

On teams where members expected leaders to be dominant and powerful, humble leaders were met with doubt and team members felt unsafe to speak up and take risks.

Harvard Business Review

"And then, of course, the concern is, where will the next generation of wealth come from?" The idea of exempting the wealthy from sharing in social benefits has also been met with doubt in an unlikely quarter: the Economic Council of the Labor Movement, an organization that campaigns for workers' rights, equal distribution of wealth, and other classic social democratic ideals.

The New York Times

But if they expected cheers once again from around the world, they were instead hurt and infuriated when People Power II was met with doubt and criticism, described by foreign commentators as "a defeat for due process," as "mob rule," as "a de facto coup".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The implementation of gender is not always a smooth process; it is sometimes met with doubts and scepticism [ 15].

BMC Medical Education

Patients battling illnesses like colitis invisible disabilities, as they are known often meet with doubt.

Duke University

For those of us who have been following agriculture and climate change for some time, hearing that "the time is now" may be met with some doubt.

Huffington Post

For as we see throughout the film, even the most reliable intelligence procured by the richest and most powerful nation in the world is met with inexorable doubt and results in irreconcilable disillusionment.

Huffington Post

But now, WikiLeaks has been met with new doubts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "met with doubt", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the doubting. Providing specific details about the source of skepticism strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "met with doubt" when a more neutral reaction, such as simple questioning or mild skepticism, would be more accurate. Reserve it for situations where there's a significant level of disbelief or suspicion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "met with doubt" functions as a predicate expressing how a particular statement, idea, or action was received. As seen in Ludwig, the phrase indicates a reaction of skepticism, disbelief, or suspicion from an audience or group.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "met with doubt" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-registered expression used to describe a skeptical or disbelieving reception of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for indicating that a statement, idea, or action was greeted with suspicion. While less common than some alternatives, such as "greeted with skepticism", "met with doubt" is effectively used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, academic writing, and scientific discussions. When using this phrase, ensure that the source and intensity of the doubt are clear to the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greeted with skepticism

Focuses on the skeptical reception, emphasizing a questioning attitude.

met with disbelief

Highlights the lack of belief in the statement or action.

aroused suspicion

Emphasizes the generation of distrust or wariness.

faced incredulity

Focuses on the feeling of not being able to believe something.

was received with reservation

Highlights a cautious or hesitant acceptance.

stirred up mistrust

Emphasizes the active creation of a lack of trust.

was viewed with cynicism

Focuses on a negative or pessimistic outlook.

was met with skepticism and criticism

Combines both doubt and explicit negative feedback.

was regarded with suspicion

Focuses on a careful, distrustful observation.

was not readily accepted

Emphasizes the lack of easy or immediate agreement.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is "met with doubt"?

When something is "met with doubt", it means that it was greeted with skepticism, disbelief, or suspicion. People question its validity or truthfulness.

How can I use "met with doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "met with doubt" to describe a situation where a claim, statement, or action is not readily believed or accepted. For example, "His explanation for the missing money was "greeted with skepticism" and "met with disbelief"."

What are some alternatives to "met with doubt"?

Alternatives to "met with doubt" include "greeted with skepticism", "met with disbelief", or "aroused suspicion". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "met with doubt" or "met with skepticism"?

"Met with doubt" and "met with skepticism" are very similar. "Met with skepticism" implies a questioning attitude, while "met with doubt" suggests a stronger level of disbelief. The better choice depends on the intensity of the reaction you want to describe.