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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dubious
The administration’s policies are more extreme, and there’s a brazenness to the whole affair—nobody’s even trying to justify the plot (or, in this case, cover up the corruption and dubious legality of the government’s deportation regime).
—
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
But another piece of it is in the dubious nature of the state’s creation.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 20 June 2025
The inconsistency of the geographical settings goes hand in hand with the how their American protagonists are depicted as inept operators whose heroism is ambiguous
Soon after his arrival in Saigon, Andrews mistakes an advertisement for a dubious massage parlor as a clue from a local contact.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2025
Pair that with a Republican reconciliation bill that increases tax giveaways while refusing to rein in even the most dubious Medicaid expansions, and the message is unmistakable: Washington is still in giveaway mode.
—Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dubious
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
But another piece of it is in the dubious nature of the state’s creation.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 20 June 2025
The inconsistency of the geographical settings goes hand in hand with the how their American protagonists are depicted as inept operators whose heroism is ambiguous
Soon after his arrival in Saigon, Andrews mistakes an advertisement for a dubious massage parlor as a clue from a local contact.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2025
Pair that with a Republican reconciliation bill that increases tax giveaways while refusing to rein in even the most dubious Medicaid expansions, and the message is unmistakable: Washington is still in giveaway mode.
—Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dubious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dubious
Adjective
-
Credits are issued by independent registries but the market has faced criticism for inconsistent standards, greenwashing, and questionable impact.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Chisholm followed that free pass with a questionable sac bunt for the first out of the inning.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
The holdout Republicans remain reluctant to give their votes, and their leaders have almost no room to spare, given their narrow majorities.—
Glen Luke Flanagan,
Fortune,
30 June 2025
-
According to the most recent survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), sentiment among U.S. homebuilders is now at its lowest level since 2022, as many are forced to cut prices and offer incentives to entice reluctant buyers.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
Nutrient deficiencies are unlikely to cause leaf browning, so fertilizer is not the answer to brown leaves.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 July 2025
-
Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
That included 83% of Democrats but just 33% of Republicans, who tend to be more skeptical of climate change.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
-
Lee also points out North Korea's poor infrastructure and vulnerability to geopolitical fluctuations as reasons to be skeptical about its tourism ambitions.—
Se Eun Gong,
NPR,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Yet Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) – which leads Germany’s coalition government – is hesitant.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
6 July 2025
-
His defense at second base is also still evolving, too, which accentuates why the Astros are hesitant to summon him.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Without the autonomy to approve such costs within the agency, employees are unsure of their responsibilities.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
11 July 2025
-
The filmmaker, unsure his story was appropriate at such a moment, was encouraged by Masharawi to proceed.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, security teams must expand visibility with tools that monitor AI use, flag suspicious behavior and inventory every AI-enabled app.—
Jason Vest,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Why else, the night Mrs. Palit invited us to dinner, did my eyes fall on suspicious dark objects, not much larger than prominent flecks of salt, in the dal?—
Jhumpa Lahiri,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
After delivering several flops since its inception in 2019, such as Napoleon and Killers of the Flower Moon, the future of Apple's foray into movies remained doubtful.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
-
Ticketing companies show support for Donald Trump's executive order, others prove to be doubtful of 'meaningful change' Live Nation, parent company of Ticketmaster, issued a statement supporting Trump's executive order and calling for a cap on resale prices.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dubious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dubious. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share