doubtful
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Related to doubtful: doubtful debts
doubt·ful
(dout′fəl)adj.
1. Subject to or causing doubt: a doubtful claim; doubtful prospects.
2. Experiencing or showing doubt: Doubtful that the cord would hold, we strengthened it.
3. Of uncertain outcome; undecided.
4. Raising doubts as to legitimacy, honesty, or respectability; suspicious: the candidate's doubtful past. See Usage Note at doubt.
doubt′ful·ly adv.
doubt′ful·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
doubtful
(ˈdaʊtfʊl)adj
1. unlikely; improbable
2. characterized by or causing doubt; uncertain: a doubtful answer.
3. unsettled; unresolved
4. of questionable reputation or morality
5. having reservations or misgivings
6. (General Sporting Terms) (of a sportsperson) not likely to be fit enough to play or take part
n
7. a person who is undecided or uncertain about an issue
8. (General Sporting Terms) a sportsperson who is not likely to be fit enough to play or take part
ˈdoubtfully adv
ˈdoubtfulness n
Usage: It was formerly considered correct to use whether after doubtful (it is doubtful whether he will come), but now if and that are also acceptable
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
doubt•ful
(ˈdaʊt fəl)adj.
1. of uncertain outcome.
2. admitting of or causing doubt; uncertain.
3. unsettled in opinion or belief; undecided; hesitant.
4. of dubious character or value: doubtful tactics.
5. unlikely; not probable.
[1350–1400]
doubt′ful•ly, adv.
doubt′ful•ness, n.
syn: doubtful, dubious, incredulous, skeptical all involve a reluctance to be convinced. doubtful implies a strong feeling of uncertainty or indecision about something or someone: to be doubtful about the outcome of a contest. dubious usu. implies vacillation or hesitation caused by mistrust or suspicion: dubious about their statements. incredulous suggests an unwillingness or reluctance to believe: incredulous at the good news. skeptical implies a general disposition to doubt or question: skeptical of human progress.
usage: See doubt.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
doubtful
In artillery and naval gunfire support, a term used by an observer or spotter to indicate that he was unable to determine the difference in range between the target and a round or rounds.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
doubtful
– dubious – suspicious1. 'doubtful'
If you feel doubtful about something, you are unsure about it or about whether it will happen or be successful.
Do you feel insecure and doubtful about your ability?
It was doubtful he would ever see her again.
2. 'dubious'
If you are dubious about something, you are not sure whether it is the right thing to do.
Alison sounded very dubious.
The men in charge were a bit dubious about taking women on.
If you describe something as dubious, you think it is not completely honest, safe, or reliable.
...his dubious abilities as a teacher.
3. 'suspicious'
If you are suspicious of a person, you do not trust them and think they might be involved in something dishonest or illegal.
I am suspicious of his intentions.
Miss Lenaut had grown suspicious.
If you describe something as suspicious, it suggests behaviour that is dishonest, illegal, or dangerous.
He listened for any suspicious sounds.
...in suspicious circumstances.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. | doubtful - open to doubt or suspicion; "the candidate's doubtful past"; "he has a dubious record indeed"; "what one found uncertain the other found dubious or downright false"; "it was more than dubitable whether the friend was as influential as she thought"- Karen Horney questionable - subject to question; "questionable motives"; "a questionable reputation"; "a fire of questionable origin" |
| 2. | doubtful - fraught with uncertainty or doubt; "they were doubtful that the cord would hold"; "it was doubtful whether she would be admitted"; "dubious about agreeing to go" | |
| 3. | doubtful - unsettled in mind or opinion; "drew a few tentative conclusions" unsettled - still in doubt; "an unsettled issue"; "an unsettled state of mind" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
doubtful
adjective
1. unlikely, unclear, dubious, unsettled, dodgy (Brit., Austral., & N.Z. informal), questionable, ambiguous, improbable, indefinite, unconfirmed, inconclusive, debatable, indeterminate, iffy (informal), equivocal, inexact It seemed doubtful that he would move at all.
unlikely certain, definite, indubitable
unlikely certain, definite, indubitable
2. unsure, uncertain, hesitant, suspicious, hesitating, sceptical, unsettled, tentative, wavering, unresolved, perplexed, undecided, unconvinced, vacillating, leery (slang), distrustful, in two minds (informal), irresolute Why did he sound so doubtful?
unsure decided, certain, positive, resolute
unsure decided, certain, positive, resolute
3. questionable, suspect, suspicious, crooked, dubious, dodgy (Brit., Austral., & N.Z. informal), slippery, shady (informal), unscrupulous, fishy (informal), shifty, disreputable, untrustworthy They all seemed of very doubtful character.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
doubtful
adjective1. Not affording certainty:
ambiguous, borderline, chancy, clouded, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, inconclusive, indecisive, indeterminate, problematic, problematical, questionable, uncertain, unclear, unsure.
Informal: iffy.
Idioms: at issue, in doubt, in question.
2. Not likely:
4. In doubt or dispute:
5. Of dubious character:
Informal: fishy.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
غَيْر مُؤَكَّدمُتَشَكِّك، كَثيرُ الأرْتِيابمُتَشَكِّك، مُرْتابمَشْكُوك فِيهمَشْكوكٌ فيه
pochybnýpochybovačnýnejasnýnejistýnejsitý
tvivlsomusikkeruvis
kyseenalainenarveluttavaepäileväepäilyttäväepätodennäköinen
sumnjičav
grunsamleguróviss, efagjarnvafasamur
疑わしい
의심스러운
negotov
tveksam
เป็นที่สงสัย
đáng nghi
doubtful
[ˈdaʊtfʊl] ADJ2. (= unconvinced) [expression] → de duda
"all right then," he said in a doubtful tone → -bueno, vale -dijo con un tono de duda en la voz
Jeremy nodded his head, but he still looked doubtful → Jeremy asintió pero no parecía aún convencido
I'm a bit doubtful → no estoy convencido del todo
to be doubtful that → dudar que + subjun
he was doubtful that he would be able to lift it → dudaba que pudiera levantarlo
I am doubtful whether we should accept the offer → dudo si deberíamos aceptar la oferta o no
to be doubtful about sth → tener dudas sobre algo
"all right then," he said in a doubtful tone → -bueno, vale -dijo con un tono de duda en la voz
Jeremy nodded his head, but he still looked doubtful → Jeremy asintió pero no parecía aún convencido
I'm a bit doubtful → no estoy convencido del todo
to be doubtful that → dudar que + subjun
he was doubtful that he would be able to lift it → dudaba que pudiera levantarlo
I am doubtful whether we should accept the offer → dudo si deberíamos aceptar la oferta o no
to be doubtful about sth → tener dudas sobre algo
3. (= unlikely) → dudoso
a reconciliation between the two sides seems doubtful → una reconciliación entre las dos partes parece dudosa
it is doubtful that they will reach an agreement → es dudoso or poco probable que lleguen a un acuerdo
it is doubtful that there will be any survivors → se duda or es poco probable que haya sobrevivientes
for a moment it seemed doubtful that he would move at all → por un momento pareció que no se iba a mover en absoluto
it is doubtful whether → es poco probable que + subjun
doubtful starter (Sport) → participante mf dudoso
a reconciliation between the two sides seems doubtful → una reconciliación entre las dos partes parece dudosa
it is doubtful that they will reach an agreement → es dudoso or poco probable que lleguen a un acuerdo
it is doubtful that there will be any survivors → se duda or es poco probable que haya sobrevivientes
for a moment it seemed doubtful that he would move at all → por un momento pareció que no se iba a mover en absoluto
it is doubtful whether → es poco probable que + subjun
doubtful starter (Sport) → participante mf dudoso
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
doubtful
[ˈdaʊtfʊl] adj (= dubious) [quality, value] → douteux/euse
(= full of doubts) [person] → incertain(e)
I'm a bit doubtful
BUT Je n'en suis pas si sûr.
You sound doubtful
BUT Tu n'as pas l'air sûr.
to be doubtful about sth → avoir des doutes sur qch
to be doubtful (that) ... → douter que ... + subj
to be doubtful whether ... → douter que ... + subj
to be doubtful about doing something → hésiter à faire quelque chose
I'm doubtful about going by myself → J'hésite à y aller tout seul.
I'm a bit doubtful
BUT Je n'en suis pas si sûr.
You sound doubtful
BUT Tu n'as pas l'air sûr.
to be doubtful about sth → avoir des doutes sur qch
to be doubtful (that) ... → douter que ... + subj
to be doubtful whether ... → douter que ... + subj
to be doubtful about doing something → hésiter à faire quelque chose
I'm doubtful about going by myself → J'hésite à y aller tout seul.
(= unlikely to play) [player]
Jokanovic is doubtful for Chelsea → La participation de Jokanovic avec Chelsea est incertaine.
Jokanovic is doubtful for Chelsea → La participation de Jokanovic avec Chelsea est incertaine.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
doubtful
adj
(usu pred: = unconvinced) person → unsicher; I’m still doubtful → ich habe noch Bedenken; to be doubtful about something → an etw (dat) → zweifeln; to be doubtful about doing something → Bedenken haben, ob man etw tun soll; I was doubtful whether I could ever manage it → ich bezweifelte, ob ich es je schaffen könnte; to be doubtful of somebody/something → jdm/einer Sache (dat) → nicht trauen
(= unlikely) reconciliation, improvement, victory → unwahrscheinlich; it is doubtful that… → es ist unsicher or zweifelhaft, ob …
(= questionable, dubious) reputation → zweifelhaft, fragwürdig; future, outcome → ungewiss; joke, taste, quality, value → zweifelhaft; information of doubtful reliability/origin → zweifelhafte Informationen; it is doubtful whether this could be managed → es ist fraglich, ob das zu schaffen wäre
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
doubtful
[ˈdaʊtfʊl] adj (uncertain, person) → poco convinto/a; (look) → dubbioso/a; (result, success, future) → dubbio/a, incerto/a; (debatable, question) → discutibile; (questionable, taste, reputation) → dubbio/ato be doubtful about sth → non essere convinto/a di qc, avere dei dubbi su qc
I'm a bit doubtful → non sono tanto sicuro
it's doubtful whether ... → non è sicuro che... + sub
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
doubt
(daut) verb1. to feel uncertain about, but inclined not to believe. I doubt if he'll come now; He might have a screwdriver, but I doubt it.
2. not to be sure of the reliability of. Sometimes I doubt your intelligence!
noun a feeling of not being sure and sometimes of being suspicious. There is some doubt as to what happened; I have doubts about that place.
ˈdoubtful adjective1. feeling doubt; uncertain what to think, expect etc. He is doubtful about the future of the school.
2. able to be doubted; not clear. The outcome is doubtful; a doubtful result.
3. uncertain but rather unlikely, unhopeful etc. It is doubtful whether this will work; a doubtful improvement.
4. suspicious. He's rather a doubtful character.
ˈdoubtfully adverbˈdoubtfulness noun
ˈdoubtless adverb
probably. John has doubtless told you about me.
beyond doubt certain(ly). Beyond doubt, they will arrive tomorrow; His honesty is beyond doubt.
in doubt uncertain. The result of the dispute is still in doubt.
no doubt surely; probably. No doubt you would like to see your bedroom; He will come back again tomorrow, no doubt.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
doubtful
→ مَشْكُوك فِيه nepravděpodobný tvivlsom zweifelhaft αμφίβολος dubitativo, dudoso kyseenalainen douteux sumnjičav dubbioso 疑わしい 의심스러운 twijfelachtig tvilsom wątpliwy duvidoso сомнительный tveksam เป็นที่สงสัย kuşkulu đáng nghi 疑惑的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009