Doubt — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈdau̇t/

Meaning & Definition of Doubt

Doubt (verb)

  1. to call into question the truth of, to be uncertain or in doubt about
  2. to lack confidence in, distrust
  3. to consider unlikely

Doubt (noun)

  1. a lack of confidence, distrust
  2. an inclination not to believe or accept
  3. uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes with decision-making

Doubt (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something

    "from the beginning I had my doubts about the investment scheme"

    similar: distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation (archaic), incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, query, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty
    related: disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, anxiety, concern, paranoia, wariness, compunction, niggle (chiefly British), qualm, scruple, tremor
    opposite: assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness, surety, trust
    near: credence, faith

Doubt (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have no trust or confidence in

    "I doubt that you can do all that you say"

    similar: distrust, misdoubt, mistrust, question, suspect
    related: disbelieve, discount, discredit, negate
    opposite: trust
    near: bank (on or upon), count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon)

Related Entry: Self-doubt (noun)

Self-doubt is a different word from Doubt. The synonyms below are for self-doubt, not for doubt.

  1. as in insecurity, diffidence

    similar: diffidence, insecurity, self-distrust, apprehension, doubt, misgiving
    opposite: aplomb, assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-trust, cockiness, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egoism, egotism, hubris, overconfidence, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-applause, self-assumption, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-consequence, self-content, self-contentment, self-glorification, self-importance, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vanity, calmness, composure, coolness, equanimity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Doubt

The most common words with a similar meaning to Doubt:

Archaic: dubitation
distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, query, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty, question, suspect

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Doubt

Words with the opposite meaning of Doubt:

assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness, surety, trust

Related Words for Doubt

disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, anxiety, concern, paranoia, wariness, compunction, niggle, qualm, scruple, tremor, disbelieve, discount, discredit, negate

Near Antonyms of Doubt

credence, faith, bank (on or upon), count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon)

Word Forms of Doubt

Inflections: doubted, doubting, doubts

Derived words: doubtable (adjective), doubter (noun), doubtingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Doubt

Middle English douten, from Anglo-French duter, douter, from Latin dubitare to be in doubt; akin to Latin dubius dubious

First known use: 13th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Doubt

Words & Phrases Containing Doubt

no doubt, self-doubt, a shadow of (a) doubt, beyond doubt, call into doubt, cast doubt on, cast/throw doubt on, in doubt

Frequently Asked Questions about Doubt

What does "Doubt" mean?

"Doubt" means to call into question the truth of, to be uncertain or in doubt about. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to call into question the truth of, to be uncertain or in doubt about. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Doubt"?

Other words for "Doubt" include distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving and mistrust. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Doubt" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Doubt"?

There are 32 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Doubt". Common alternatives include distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness and query.

What is the opposite of "Doubt"?

Antonyms of "Doubt" include assurance, belief, certainty, certitude, confidence, conviction, sureness and surety. Near antonyms include credence, faith, bank (on or upon) and count (on or upon).

How do you use "Doubt" in a sentence?

Examples of "Doubt" in a sentence: "from the beginning I had my doubts about the investment scheme"; "I doubt that you can do all that you say".

Is "Doubt" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Doubt" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Doubt" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Doubt" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Doubt"?

"Doubt" is pronounced /ˈdau̇t/.