1
as in unsure
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
the election results were highly doubtful, so an investigation was begun
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur
our winning the championship increasingly looks like a doubtful outcome
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in disputable
open to question or dispute
a doubtful claim to the property
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doubtful
He was not listed as questionable, doubtful or out for the game.
—
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Players were doubtful; the internet was still in its relative infancy in 2009.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
But plenty of standouts are out: Niners QB Brock Purdy, and seven pass catchers (Rams’ Puka Nacua, Titans’ Calvin Ridley, Packers’ Christian Watson, Colts’ Josh Downs, Giants’ Darius Slayton and Cleveland’s David Njoku), And Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Jets WR Garrett Wilson are doubtful.
—Kevin Cusick, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The expectation, McVay added, is that Speights will be listed as doubtful for this weekend’s game against the Baltimore Ravens and running back Derrick Henry.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doubtful
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Players were doubtful; the internet was still in its relative infancy in 2009.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025
But plenty of standouts are out: Niners QB Brock Purdy, and seven pass catchers (Rams’ Puka Nacua, Titans’ Calvin Ridley, Packers’ Christian Watson, Colts’ Josh Downs, Giants’ Darius Slayton and Cleveland’s David Njoku), And Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Jets WR Garrett Wilson are doubtful.
—Kevin Cusick, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The expectation, McVay added, is that Speights will be listed as doubtful for this weekend’s game against the Baltimore Ravens and running back Derrick Henry.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for doubtful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doubtful
Adjective
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As Altadena rebuilds, Good Neighbor has, essentially, become a daily support group, where neighbors can find comfort and a sense of permanence when everything else is unsure.—
Esther Tseng,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
11 Nov. 2025
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Many men in the facility, like Chacón, were unsure why they were accused of terrorist activity, the story detailed.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Unfortunately, Packers quarterback Jordan Love will go into the game without one of his top receiving threats, who came into the game with a questionable tag.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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You will be awarded with Very Special Records and questionable merchandise in due time.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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These reasons alone might be sufficient for those who hold the shares to consider taking profits or selling some of the upside option premium, anticipating that additional upside in the near term is unlikely.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
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After all, Butler’s own success—as a child of a Black family that moved West from Jim Crow Louisiana during the Great Migration—would have been considered very unlikely at the moment of her birth.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That time, a very disputable foul denied him.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The comments in the post were split between those who wanted to show care to the boyfriend and those who were skeptical of the woman's behavior.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
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But there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical.—
Bob Woods,
CNBC,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But all of that assumes that a putsch does succeed, and this is dubious.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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Also, the father in the book is a screenwriter, opening the door for sharp commentary on Hollywood and its dubious attempts at on-screen representation.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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And there are people with theological and philosophical bents who use the BGV theorem to bolster their preferred arguments over how the Universe ultimately began, with dubious and debatable results.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Oct. 2025
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Whether girls are reaching puberty six years earlier than previously is debatable—a 2024 study found a shift of only six months, not six years.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Homicide detectives deemed the death suspicious and began investigating.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
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Homicide investigators are investigating the circumstances of the death as suspicious based on the woman’s unexplained injuries.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Doubtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doubtful. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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