dubious

/ˈdjuːbiəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈduːbiəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdü-bē-əs also dyü-/ (ame, mw)

dubious — adjective

  • dubiouspositive
  • more dubiouscomparative
  • most dubioussuperlative

1. describes a claim, statement, method, or situation that makes you doubt its trut

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a claim, statement, method, or situation that makes you doubt its truth, honesty, or quality — for example, a business deal that seems too good to be true or a scientific result that cannot be confirmed.

例句

The company's claims about the product seemed highly dubious to the government inspectors.

collocation: highly dubious

Min received a dubious honour — the prize for the employee with the most typing errors.

ironic use: dubious honour / dubious distinction

同義詞
  • questionable

    slightly weaker — suggests room for doubt rather than strong suspicion; e.g. questionable decision vs dubious methods

  • suspicious

    implies active distrust or belief that something is wrong; stronger in moral judgment

  • doubtful

    more neutral; can mean 'unlikely' about outcomes, while dubious carries a quality/trust judgment

反義詞
  • reliable

    trustworthy and able to be believed

  • credible

    able to be believed; convincing in a positive sense

文法句型

dubious + noun

be + dubious

用法筆記

Often used before a noun (attributive): a dubious claim, a dubious method. When used after a linking verb (be, seem, appear), the subject is usually abstract: His explanation seemed dubious. For the feeling of doubt in a person, see sense 2 (FEELING DOUBTFUL).

常見錯誤

❌The story is very dubious for me.
✅The story seems highly dubious to me.
💡Use 'seems/looks/appears dubious' + 'to' for opinion, not 'for'.
❌I am dubious that he will come.
✅I am doubtful that he will come.
💡When expressing personal uncertainty about a future event, 'doubtful' is more natural; 'dubious' implies suspicion or moral questioning.

2. used about a person who is not sure whether something is right, true, or good, u

2.形容詞B2
釋義

used about a person who is not sure whether something is right, true, or good, usually because a detail feels wrong or suspicious — for example, being dubious about a promise because the person has broken promises before.

例句

Heloísa was dubious about hiking up the mountain during a winter storm.

dubious about + [activity/plan]

Tunde felt dubious when a stranger offered to carry his shopping all the way home.

同義詞
  • doubtful

    more neutral and slightly weaker; can be used for probability (doubtful that it will rain) whereas dubious is not

  • skeptical

    more intellectual — involves questioning based on evidence or logic; common in academic, scientific contexts

  • uncertain

    broader — covers any lack of certainty, not necessarily with suspicion

反義詞

文法句型

be + dubious + about + noun/gerund

feel/remain + dubious + about/of

用法筆記

This sense describes a person's state of mind, not the quality of a thing (for that, see sense 1, QUESTIONABLE). Common in patterns: dubious about + noun/gerund, dubious of + noun. Can also describe someone's facial expression or tone: She gave him a dubious look.

常見錯誤

❌The plan is dubious.' (meaning the person is unsure)
✅I am dubious about the plan.
💡'dubious' alone on a thing refers to the thing being suspect (sense 1); for personal uncertainty, use 'dubious about' + the thing.
❌I am dubious if it rains tomorrow.
✅I am doubtful whether it will rain tomorrow.
💡'dubious' is not used for simple probability; use 'doubtful' for likelihood.