Doubting — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈdau̇t/ (verb) /-ˈtä-məs/ (noun)

Meaning & Definition of Doubting

Doubting (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

Doubting (noun)

  1. an incredulous or habitually doubtful person

Doubting (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. inclined to doubt or question claims

    "congenitally doubting viewers will wonder if there's anything real about that so-called reality show"

    similar: disbelieving, distrustful, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, skeptical, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving
    related: paranoid, critical, puzzled, quizzical, careful, cautious, guarded, gun-shy, leery, wary, watchful, cynical, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise, curious, inquiring, inquisitive, nosy, snoopy, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, undetermined, unsettled, unsure, hesitant
    opposite: credulous, gullible, trustful, trusting, uncritical, unquestioning
    near: green, ingenuous, innocent, naive, simple, simpleminded, unknowing, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed, certain, confident, positive, sure, callow, inexperienced, raw, childlike, idealistic, impractical, beguiled, deceived, duped, gulled, tricked, careless, heedless, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary

Doubting (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have no trust or confidence in

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

    similar: distrusting, misdoubting, mistrusting, questioning, suspecting
    related: disbelieving, discounting, discrediting, negating
    opposite: trusting
    near: banking (on or upon), counting (on or upon), depending (on or upon), relying (on or upon)

Related Entry: Doubt (verb)

Doubt is a different word from Doubting. The synonyms below are for doubt, not for doubting.

  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: Doubting Thomas (noun)

Doubting Thomas is a different word from Doubting. The synonyms below are for doubting Thomas, not for doubting.

  1. a person who is always ready to doubt or question the truth or existence of something

    "an astronomer who enjoys taking the role of the doubting Thomas in debates with UFOlogists"

    similar: disbeliever, doubter, questioner, skeptic, unbeliever
    related: agnostic, cynic, misanthrope, pessimist, derider, ridiculer, scoffer
    near: chump, dupe, gull, pigeon, sucker

Related Entry: Doubting Thomases (noun)

Doubting Thomases is a different word from Doubting. The synonyms below are for doubting Thomases, not for doubting.

  1. a person who is always ready to doubt or question the truth or existence of something

    "an astronomer who enjoys taking the role of the doubting Thomas in debates with UFOlogists"

    similar: disbelievers, doubters, questioners, skeptics, unbelievers
    related: agnostics, cynics, misanthropes, pessimists, deriders, ridiculers, scoffers
    near: chumps, dupes, gulls, pigeons, suckers

Related Entry: Self-doubting (adjective)

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

  1. as in modest, timid

    similar: diffident, insecure, meek, modest, timid, unassertive, unassuming, unpretentious, unadventurous, unenterprising, awkward, clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, ungraceful, wooden, backward, bashful, coy, demure, introverted, recessive, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, shy, withdrawn, agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed, perturbed, rattled, unhinged, unsettled, upset, inhibited, reserved, uneasy, uptight, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious
    opposite: assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, graceful, suave, urbane

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Doubting

The most common words with a similar meaning to Doubting:

disbelieving, distrustful, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, skeptical, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving, distrusting, misdoubting, mistrusting

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Doubting

Words with the opposite meaning of Doubting:

credulous, gullible, trustful, trusting, uncritical, unquestioning

Related Words for Doubting

paranoid, critical, puzzled, quizzical, careful, cautious, guarded, gun-shy, leery, wary, watchful, cynical, experienced, knowing, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise, curious, inquiring, inquisitive, nosy, snoopy, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, undetermined, unsettled, unsure, hesitant, discounting

Near Antonyms of Doubting

green, ingenuous, innocent, naive, simple, simpleminded, unknowing, unsophisticated, unworldly, wide-eyed, certain, confident, positive, sure, callow, inexperienced, raw, childlike, idealistic, impractical, beguiled, deceived, duped, gulled, tricked, careless, heedless, unsuspecting, unsuspicious, unwary

Word Forms of Doubting

Inflections: doubted, doubts

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

Origin & Etymology of Doubting

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

Words & Phrases Containing Doubting

doubting Thomas

Frequently Asked Questions about Doubting

What does "Doubting" mean?

"Doubting" means to call into question the truth of, to be uncertain or in doubt about. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, 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 "Doubting"?

Other words for "Doubting" include disbelieving, distrustful, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me and skeptical. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Doubting" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Doubting"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Doubting". Common alternatives include disbelieving, distrustful, incredulous, mistrustful, negativistic, questioning, show-me, skeptical, suspecting and suspicious.

What is the opposite of "Doubting"?

Antonyms of "Doubting" include credulous, gullible, trustful, trusting, uncritical and unquestioning. Near antonyms include green, ingenuous, innocent and naive.

How do you use "Doubting" in a sentence?

Examples of "Doubting" in a sentence: "congenitally doubting viewers will wonder if there's anything real about that so-called reality show"; "I doubt that you can do all that you say".

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

"Doubting" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Doubting"?

"Doubting" is pronounced /ˈdau̇t/ as a verb and /-ˈtä-məs/ as a noun.

What is the origin of the word "Doubting"?

"Doubting" comes from 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.