Meaning & Definition of word "Dubious"

Dubious

/ˈdjuː.bi.əs/

1. hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon; suspect.
- Example: The dubious authenticity of the ancient manuscript raised questions among the scholars.
2. morally suspect; questionable.
- Example: She had dubious ethics when it came to business practices.
3. having or showing uncertainty.
- Example: He gave a dubious smile that suggested he wasn't convinced.
4. having a likelihood of being bad or harmful.
- Example: Investing in those dubious companies could lead to significant financial loss.

●Late 16th century, from Latin 'dubiosus', from 'dubium' meaning 'doubt'.

dubious distinction:

A term used to indicate an undesirable or negative achievement.

dubious tactics:

Questionable methods used to attain goals.

doubt:

A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.

ambiguity:

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.

Meaning: Sketchy

● Example Sentence: That deal sounds sketchy; I'm feeling dubious about it.

Meaning: Fishy

● Example Sentence: Her explanation seemed fishy; I was dubious about its truth.