dubious

adjective

ˈdü-bē-əs How to pronounce dubious (audio)
Definition of dubiousnext
1
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged any letter bearing the signature of Geronimo would be of dubious authenticity, to say the least

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty I'm dubious about our plan to go hang gliding without having had any training

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3
as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur made the dubious claim of being of royal blood

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4
as in skeptical
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something dubious about a diet that claims I can eat all I want and still lose weight

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dubious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dubious are doubtful, problematic, and questionable. While all these words mean "not affording assurance of the worth, soundness, or certainty of something," dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation.

dubious about the practicality of the scheme

When would doubtful be a good substitute for dubious?

The meanings of doubtful and dubious largely overlap; however, doubtful implies little more than a lack of conviction or certainty.

doubtful about whether I said the right thing

Where would problematic be a reasonable alternative to dubious?

While in some cases nearly identical to dubious, problematic applies especially to things whose existence, meaning, fulfillment, or realization is highly uncertain.

whether the project will ever be finished is problematic

When could questionable be used to replace dubious?

The words questionable and dubious can be used in similar contexts, but questionable may imply no more than the existence of doubt but usually suggests that the suspicions are well-grounded.

a man of questionable honesty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dubious Social media influencers promote dubious nutrition concepts and unproven health products or procedures without oversight. —Kirstin R.w. Matthews, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026 Chicago also had the dubious honor of having the first of only two bank failures nationwide last year. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2026 Among moments of dubious dubbing and peculiar acting, the film delivers some genuinely suspenseful sequences, and Juan Mariné's cinematography is colorful and well-polished. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026 Although that is a dubious solution, as companies aren’t likely to hire more people until there is more buying. —Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dubious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dubious
  1. questionable
  2. reluctant
  3. unlikely
  4. skeptical
  5. disputable
  6. hesitant
  7. unsure
  8. suspicious
Adjective
  • New England Patriots linebackers Robert Spillane and Harold Landry III were officially listed as questionable for the Super Bowl.
    — Amos Morale III, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • While Britain is suffering perhaps the most dramatic upheaval in the wake of the latest batch of Epstein files, association with the billionaire is popping up across the globe like a pandemic of questionable judgment.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of questionable
Adjective
  • The report warned that neglect is often minimized within the child welfare system, where it can be conflated with poverty and social workers may be reluctant to penalize poor or minority parents who are juggling multiple jobs.
    — Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The video drew a strong response from Republican lawmakers, who often are reluctant to criticize the leader of their party.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of reluctant
Adjective
  • The series follows a teenage boy who forms an unlikely alliance with the Fairy Queen of Celtic lore to search for malevolent mythical creatures from around the world, among them the Yeti, Baba Yaga and a Lady Dracula — not to destroy them, but to save them from impending doom.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Costco, by contrast, is betting that visible, if measured, support for diversity can coexist with—and even underpin—a booming business, turning the warehouse club into an unlikely bellwether for how far corporate America is willing to go in defying the president’s DEI directive.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of unlikely
Adjective
  • Overall, the five-member panel of justices appeared skeptical of the prosecution’s arguments on those points.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Some fans can get skeptical when their favorite artists incorporate more Christian-adjacent messaging in their music.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of skeptical
Adjective
  • That disputable appraisal turned a few heads, and people began peppering the bot for further remarks on Musk’s physical prowess.
    — Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025
  • That time, a very disputable foul denied him.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Definition of disputable
Adjective
  • This brought back family gossip and hesitant bits of information about my mother’s beloved grandfather, my maternal great-grandfather.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
  • That statistic underlines just how hesitant companies have become to acquire indie projects.
    — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of hesitant
Adjective
  • The Cougars were a bit unsure of what the goaltending would look like after two-time All-Scholastic Patrick Clair graduated, but their four goalies now are a supportive and tight-knit group that’s seen Camara rise up as of late.
    — Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
  • There is a big difference between a buyer who must complete a specific step and one who is simply unsure.
    — Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of unsure
Adjective
  • The county had engaged with the family three times before his death, including over reports of suspicious injuries.
    — Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit those who placed wagers on him in at least 48 games, according to ESPN.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of suspicious

Browse Nearby Words

dubiety
dubious
dubiously
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Cite this Entry

“Dubious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dubious. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dubious

Nglish: Translation of dubious for Spanish Speakers

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