Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Dubious

Du′bi-ous

,
Adj.
[L.
dubius
,
dubiosus
, fr.
duo
two. See
Two
, and cf.
Doubt
.]
1.
Doubtful or not settled in opinion; being in doubt; wavering or fluctuating; undetermined.
Dubious policy.”
Sir T. Scott.
A
dubious
, agitated state of mind.
Thackeray.
2.
Occasioning doubt; not clear, or obvious; equivocal; questionable; doubtful;
as, a
dubious
answer
.
Wiping the dingy shirt with a still more
dubious
pocket handkerchief.
Thackeray.
Syn. – Doubtful; doubting; unsettled; undetermined; equivocal; uncertain. Cf.
Doubtful
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Dubious

DUBIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. See Doubt. The primary sense is probably to turn or to waver.]
1.
Doubtful; wavering or fluctuating in opinion; not settled; not determined; as, the mind is in a dubious state.
2.
Uncertain; that of which the truth is not ascertained or known; as a dubious question.
3.
Not clear; not plain; as dubious light.
4.
Of uncertain event or issue.
In dubious battle.

Definition 2024


dubious

dubious

English

Adjective

dubious (comparative more dubious, superlative most dubious)

  1. Arousing doubt; questionable; open to suspicion.
    After he made some dubious claims about the company, fewer people trusted him.
    • 2011, Nigel Jones, "A Tale of Two Scandals", History Today, February 2011, Vol. 61 Issue 2, pages 10–17
      Evasive, womanising, boastful, malicious, untrustworthy, an inveterate gambler who combined his mediocre military career with running a high-class brothel, permanently cash strapped and viciously quarrelsome, his character is as dubious as his unsavoury appearance.
  2. In disbelief; wavering, uncertain, or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt; undecided.
    She was dubious about my plan at first, but later I managed to persuade her to cooperate.
    • 2010, John M. Broder, "Global Climate-Change Talks Begin in Cancun With More Modest Expectations", New York Times, November 30, Section A, Column 0, Foreign Desk, page 12
      Last year, President Obama had large majorities in Congress and hopes of passing a comprehensive climate and energy bill. Next year, he faces a new Congress much more dubious about the reality of climate change and considerably more hostile to international efforts to deal with it.

Derived terms

See also

Translations

See also