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
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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
The second Trump administration, well aware of this deference, is using foreign policy as a pretext for its legally dubious actions.
—
Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2025
His save from the spot in the 43rd minute, after a dubious penalty was called against Miami, kept the match scoreless.
—Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 15 June 2025
The largest margin of victory this season improved Colorado to 14-57 — still on pace to be the worst team in the modern era — and made another dubious distinction for the Rockies offense a moot point.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 June 2025
Bonta argues that the use of the CRA to revoke the waivers, which were issued by the Biden EPA in 2023, is unprecedented and legally dubious.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dubious
Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2025
His save from the spot in the 43rd minute, after a dubious penalty was called against Miami, kept the match scoreless.
—Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 15 June 2025
The largest margin of victory this season improved Colorado to 14-57 — still on pace to be the worst team in the modern era — and made another dubious distinction for the Rockies offense a moot point.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 June 2025
Bonta argues that the use of the CRA to revoke the waivers, which were issued by the Biden EPA in 2023, is unprecedented and legally dubious.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dubious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dubious
Adjective
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The market was split between natural products that didn’t perform and luxury beauty loaded with questionable ingredients.—
Megan Bruneau,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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However, many travelers don't think twice about buying a cheap charging cable from a questionable vendor at an airport shop or online marketplace, making these cables a more successful point of attack.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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Cops were reluctant at first to charge Augustin with a hate crime.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2025
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It has also been unequally applied across institutions where some case managers have been reluctant to implement policies for unknown reasons.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Despite rapid advances in AI tools, experts say the technology is unlikely to transform the film and TV industry overnight due to rising production costs fueled by streaming wars.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
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De-Lin, a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, saw some patients who, at 20 weeks of pregnancy, learned that their fetuses had severe anomalies and were unlikely to survive.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Some employees are skeptical of the AI, especially following a Bloomberg report in January that predicted up to 200,000 jobs on Wall Street could be at risk within five years due to technologies like AI.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
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But Israel will likely be skeptical of China’s neutrality as a mediator, analysts said, citing Beijing’s close ties with Iran and concerns about of provoking the Trump administration.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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And compared to past conflicts, the American public—especially young people—are far more hesitant about war.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Miami’s existing condo inventory is on the rise, but new listings have fallen, a sign that some owners may be hesitant to sell because of market conditions or worries about the price of moving elsewhere.—
CD Goette-Luciak,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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The assassination of a former House Speaker in Minnesota sent shock waves throughout the political world, but lawmakers were unsure Monday if the violence will lead to long-term security changes in Connecticut.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2025
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The middle manager stretched thin, unsure if their role is next to be automated.—
Daisy Auger-Domínguez,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Avoid suspicious links and install strong antivirus protection: Crocodilus spreads through deceptive ads and fake app links.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2025
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The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but state fire officials said Wednesday a preliminary investigation found no suspicious cause.—
Todd Prussman,
Boston Herald,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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But some fear Newsom might even veto the $110 million, although this seems doubtful, given the public anger that could generate.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2025
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Whether Baghdad would risk firing these at intruding IAF jets that are not actively attacking targets on its territory is doubtful, given the crushing retaliation doing so would likely incur.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dubious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dubious. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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