1
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
any letter bearing the signature of Geronimo would be of dubious authenticity, to say the least
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
I'm dubious about our plan to go hang gliding without having had any training
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur
made the dubious claim of being of royal blood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in skeptical
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
dubious about a diet that claims I can eat all I want and still lose weight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dubious
At least one, upon replay, looked more than … dubious.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Davis left in the first quarter with a quadriceps injury and his status for Thursday’s game is dubious.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Its success inspired a wave of canal building in other states, although the economic benefit of these other canals is dubious in retrospect.
—JSTOR Daily, 26 Oct. 2025
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, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dubious
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Davis left in the first quarter with a quadriceps injury and his status for Thursday’s game is dubious.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Its success inspired a wave of canal building in other states, although the economic benefit of these other canals is dubious in retrospect.
—JSTOR Daily, 26 Oct. 2025
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, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dubious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dubious
Adjective
-
Austin Reaves, who also missed Monday’s game, is listed as questionable, while LeBron James, Maxi Kleber, Adou Thiero, and Gabe Vincent remain out.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The extent of the President's potential influence with New Yorkers in Cuomo's uphill battle with Mamdani is questionable.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
While the expansion has led to more arrests, especially in Florida, many local agencies are reluctant to participate.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Each page features full-color illustrations and only a few lines of text, making Xolo an excellent pick for reluctant readers, graphic novel lovers, and kids who’ve just begun to find their way into longer stories.—
Caroline Carlson,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This funny tale of unlikely heroism can be enjoyed either as a read-aloud or as a confidence booster for newly independent readers.—
Caroline Carlson,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In a new investigation, the New Yorker staff writer Ava Kofman reports from the small town of Yemassee, South Carolina, about the macaque mass exodus—which fuelled an unlikely alliance between animal-rights proponents and the MAGA movement.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Frontrunner Zohran Mamdani must convince Black voters skeptical of ambitious campaign promises, including free buses, free universal childcare and a rent freeze on 1 million apartments.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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But Feinberg is also intensely skeptical of some of the startups’ promises.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That time, a very disputable foul denied him.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But so far, the bottom rung of the corporate ladder is being most affected; employers are using AI to automate simpler, lower-level tasks, managers are hesitant to hire Gen Z professionals, and internships are dwindling.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
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His aggressive and unpredictable tariffs have only exacerbated that, as businesses have become hesitant to hire more workers due to uncertainty.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While many restaurant chains have suffered in recent years as diners wracked by inflation eat out less, analysts were unsure if the chain's value perception contributed to Chipotle's issues.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
-
At 25, when half her friends ran off to marry well and the other half were hell-bent on climbing the corporate ladder, Bizu found herself in the middle, unsure whether to pursue a boyfriend or a business plan.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Once Pearl knows that Dale was suspicious of Betty Jo, the damage to their relationship is done.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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The scouting trips were particularly suspicious to investigators because none of the suspects are over 21 years old, ruling out legitimate visits to bars or clubs.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dubious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dubious. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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