Dubious

/ˈdjuː.bi.əs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

having a likelihood of being bad or harmful.

Investing in those dubious companies could lead to significant financial loss.

hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon; suspect.

The dubious authenticity of the ancient manuscript raised questions among the scholars.

morally suspect; questionable.

She had dubious ethics when it came to business practices.

having or showing uncertainty.

He gave a dubious smile that suggested he wasn't convinced.

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.

Sketchy

That deal sounds sketchy; I'm feeling dubious about it.

Fishy

Her explanation seemed fishy; I was dubious about its truth.