Doubtful — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈdau̇t-fəl/ doubt·ful

Meaning & Definition of Doubtful

Doubtful (adjective)

  1. lacking a definite opinion, conviction, or determination
  2. uncertain in outcome, undecided
  3. marked by qualities that raise doubts about worth, honesty, or validity

Doubtful (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something

    "he was doubtful about the decision to complete the project despite its mounting problems"

    similar: distrustful, dubious, hinky (slang), mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, trustless, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure, on the fence
    related: ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal, diffident, insecure, halting, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, vacillating, wavering
    opposite: certain, convinced, positive, sure
    near: assured, confident, sanguine, self-assured, decisive, determined, resolute

  2. giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged

    "the election results were highly doubtful, so an investigation was begun"

    similar: debatable, disputable, dodgy (chiefly British), doubtable, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, fishy, problematic, queer, questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, suspicious
    related: alleged, so-called, supposed, moot, ambiguous, open, unclear, uncertain, undecided, undetermined, far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, unlikely, weak
    opposite: certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unproblematic, unquestionable
    near: decisive, definitive, clear, obvious, open-and-shut, positive

  3. not likely to be true or to occur

    "our winning the championship increasingly looks like a doubtful outcome"

    similar: dubious, far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, questionable, unapt, unlikely
    related: implausible, impossible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable, absurd, bizarre, crazy, fantastic, foolish, insane, nonsensical, odd, outlandish, preposterous, ridiculous, unreal, wild, outside, remote, slight
    opposite: likely, probable
    near: believable, conceivable, credible, earthly, imaginable, plausible, possible, potential, liable

  4. open to question or dispute

    "a doubtful claim to the property"

    similar: arguable, controvertible, debatable, disputable, doubtable, issuable, moot, negotiable, questionable
    related: contradictable, refutable, controversial, debated, disputed, dubious, iffy, inconclusive, indecisive, problematic, shaky, uncertain, academic, hypothetical, speculative, theoretical, ambiguous, equivocal
    opposite: accomplished, certain, hands-down, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefragable, positive, questionless, settled, sure, unanswerable, unarguable, unchallengeable, undebatable, undeniable, unquestionable
    near: irrefutable, definite, unambiguous, unequivocal, absolute, clear, conclusive, decisive, uncontested, undisputed

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Doubtful

The most common words with a similar meaning to Doubtful:

Slang: hinky
Chiefly British: dodgy
distrustful, dubious, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, trustless, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure, debatable, disputable, doubtable, dubitable, equivocal, fishy, problematic, queer, questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, unapt, unlikely, arguable, controvertible, issuable, moot, negotiable, on the fence

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Doubtful

Words with the opposite meaning of Doubtful:

certain, convinced, positive, sure, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, undeniable, undoubted, unproblematic, unquestionable, likely, probable, accomplished, inarguable, incontrovertible, irrefragable, settled, unanswerable, unarguable, unchallengeable, undebatable

Related Words for Doubtful

ambivalent, conflicted, diffident, insecure, halting, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, vacillating, wavering, alleged, so-called, supposed, ambiguous, open, unclear, undetermined, weak, implausible, impossible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable, absurd, bizarre, crazy, fantastic, foolish

Near Antonyms of Doubtful

assured, confident, sanguine, self-assured, decisive, determined, resolute, definitive, clear, obvious, open-and-shut, believable, conceivable, credible, earthly, imaginable, plausible, possible, potential, liable, irrefutable, definite, unambiguous, unequivocal, absolute, conclusive, uncontested, undisputed

Word Forms of Doubtful

Derived words: doubtfully (adverb), doubtfulness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Doubtful

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Doubtful

What does "Doubtful" mean?

"Doubtful" means lacking a definite opinion, conviction, or determination. As an adjective, it is defined as: lacking a definite opinion, conviction, or determination. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Doubtful"?

Other words for "Doubtful" include distrustful, dubious, hinky, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, trustless and uncertain. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Doubtful" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Doubtful"?

There are 88 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Doubtful". Common alternatives include distrustful, dubious, hinky, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, trustless, uncertain, unconvinced and undecided.

What is the opposite of "Doubtful"?

Antonyms of "Doubtful" include certain, convinced, positive, sure, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable and indubitable. Near antonyms include assured, confident, sanguine and self-assured.

How do you use "Doubtful" in a sentence?

Examples of "Doubtful" in a sentence: "he was doubtful about the decision to complete the project despite its mounting problems"; "the election results were highly doubtful, so an investigation was begun"; "our winning the championship increasingly looks like a doubtful outcome".

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

"Doubtful" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Doubtful"?

"Doubtful" is pronounced /ˈdau̇t-fəl/ and divided into syllables as doubt·ful.

What is the origin of the word "Doubtful"?

First known use: 14th century.