Synonyms for doubtful
ˈdaʊt fəldoubt·ful

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. doubtful

   Equivocal (Latin equus, equal, and vox, voice, word) denotes that which may equally well be understood in either of two or more ways. Ambiguous (Latin ambi, around, and ago, drive, lead) signifies lacking in distinctness or certainty, obscure or doubtful through indefiniteness of expression. Ambiguous is applied only to spoken or written statements; equivocal has other applications. A statement is ambiguous when it leaves the mind of the reader or hearer to fluctuate between two meanings, which would fit the language equally well; it is equivocal when it would naturally be understood in one way, but is capable of a different interpretation; an equivocal expression is, as a rule, intentionally deceptive, while an ambiguous utterance may be simply the result of a want either of clear thought or of adequate expression. That which is enigmatical must be guessed like a riddle; a statement may be purposely made enigmatical in order to provoke thought and study. That is doubtful which is fairly open to doubt; that is dubious which has become the subject of doubts so grave as scarcely to fall short of condemnation; as, a dubious reputation. Questionable may be used nearly in the sense either of dubious or of doubtful; a questionable statement is one that must be proved before it can be accepted. To say that one's honesty is questionable is a mild way of saying that in the opinion of the speaker he is likely to prove dishonest. Equivocal is sometimes, tho more rarely, used in this sense. A suspicious character gives manifest reason to be suspected; a suspicious temper is inclined to suspect the motives and intentions of others, with or without reason. Compare CLEAR.

   Synonyms:
   ambiguous, dubious, enigmatic, enigmatical, equivocal, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, obscure, perplexing, questionable, suspicious, uncertain

   Antonyms:
   certain, clear, distinct, evident, indisputable, indubitable, lucid, manifest, obvious, perspicuous, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal, unquestionable, unquestioned

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. doubtful, dubious, dubitable, in question(p)adjective

   open to doubt or suspicion

   "the candidate's doubtful past"; "he has a dubious record indeed"; "what one found uncertain the other found dubious or downright false"; "it was more than dubitable whether the friend was as influential as she thought"- Karen Horney

   Antonyms:
   certain(p), settled, sure, unquestionable

2. doubtful, dubiousadjective

   fraught with uncertainty or doubt

   "they were doubtful that the cord would hold"; "it was doubtful whether she would be admitted"; "dubious about agreeing to go"

   Synonyms:
   tentative, in question(p), dubious, dubitable

   Antonyms:
   certain(p), sure, unquestionable, settled

3. doubtful, tentativeadjective

   unsettled in mind or opinion

   "drew a few tentative conclusions"

   Synonyms:
   dubitable, probationary, tentative, provisionary, in question(p), provisional, dubious

   Antonyms:
   sure, settled, unquestionable, certain(p)

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. exegesis

   grammar in clarifications are rather ambiguous

   i'm not quiet convinced of his explanations, i'm not sure of his intentions

   Submitted by greenwriter60 on March 24, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. doubtfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   wavering, undecided, hesitating, undetermined, in suspense

2. doubtfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   ambiguous, dubious, equivocal, obscure, enigmatical, problematical

3. doubtfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   indeterminate, undecided, uncertain, questionable

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. doubtfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   unsettled, undetermined, dubious, wavering, precarious, undecided, irresolute, questionable, involved, ambiguous, enigmatical, problematical, equivocal, vague, indefinite

   Antonyms:
   certain, implicit, sure, unquestionable, unwavering

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "doubtful":

   dubious, questionable, suspicious, unlikely, uncertain, in-doubt, impaired, debatable, hesitant, skeptical, dodgy, suspect

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How to use doubtful in a sentence?

1. Mireya Solis:

   I am very doubtful we can have a ratification vote before the end of this year, we are thinking this is going to spill over to 2016 and this opens up all kinds of interesting possibilities.

2. Machiavelli:

   It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage, than the creation of a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institutions and merely lukewarm defenders in those who would gain by the new ones.

3. Bart Crattie:

   I ’m doubtful that any state line will be moved, that any territory will change hands, it’s just not done. If someone acquiesces to a state line for a number of years, the line does n’t change.

4. John Fund:

   It is doubtful they would have ever been detected.

5. C. C. Colton:

   We ought not be over anxious to encourage innovation, in case of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over a new one; it is established and it is understood.