dubious
dubious
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "dubious" is /ˈdʒuːbiəs/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
du: /dʒuː/
/dʒ/ as in "judge"
/uː/ as in "food"
bi: /bi/
/b/ as in "boy"
/i/ as in "kit"
ous: /əs/
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa sound)
/s/ as in "say"
Word Form Variations
"Dubious" itself doesn't have standard plural or other inflected forms in the same way a noun might. It's primarily an adjective. However, we can look at related forms:
dubious (adjective): This is the base form.
dubiously (adverb): This is the adverb form, meaning "in a dubious manner."
dubiousness (noun): This is the noun form, referring to the state or quality of being dubious (doubtful, uncertain). It's less common than the adjective or adverbs
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective: dubious
Definition 1: Feeling doubt or uncertainty about something; hesitant or skeptical.
Synonyms: doubtful, uncertain, skeptical, hesitant, unconvinced, wary, suspicious, chancy
Antonyms: certain, sure, confident, convinced, definite, unquestioning, assured
Definition 2: Open to question; of questionable value or validity; suspicious.
Synonyms: questionable, suspect, doubtful, uncertain, ambiguous, equivocal, unreliable, shaky
Antonyms: certain, definite, reliable, trustworthy, valid, sound, unquestionable
Adverb: dubiously
Definition: In a doubtful or hesitant manner.
Synonyms: doubtfully, uncertainly, skeptically, hesitantly, warily, suspiciously
Antonyms: certainly, surely, confidently, definitely, assuredly
Noun: dubiousness
Definition: The state or quality of being dubious; doubtfulness; uncertainty; questionable nature.
Synonyms: doubt, uncertainty, skepticism, hesitancy, suspicion, ambiguity, equivocalness
Antonyms: certainty, sureness, confidence, definiteness, assurance, validity
Examples of Use
Adjective (dubious):
Book: "He cast a dubious glance at the map, wondering if they were truly on the right path." (Fictional example, but representative of how it's used in literature)
Newspaper: "The company's claims about its product's effectiveness have been met with dubious reactions from consumers." (News article example)
Online Publication: "The study's methodology is dubious, raising questions about the validity of its findings." (Scientific or academic context)
Entertainment (Movie Review): "The plot twist felt dubious and contrived, ultimately weakening the film's narrative." (Film criticism)
Public Discourse: "I have a dubious feeling about this whole situation." (Everyday conversation)
Adverb (dubiously):
Book: "She smiled dubiously, not entirely convinced by his explanation." (Fictional example)
Online Publication: "Experts dubiously assess the long-term effects of the new policy." (Analysis piece)
Public Discourse: "He looked at me dubiously when I suggested we go skydiving." (Everyday conversation)
Noun (dubiousness):
Academic Writing: "The dubiousness of the historical account was explored in detail by several scholars." (Historical or literary analysis)
Legal Context: "The defense raised concerns about the dubiousness of the witness's testimony." (Legal proceedings)
Public Discourse: "There is a general sense of dubiousness surrounding the government's economic forecasts." (Political or economic commentary)
10 Famous Quotes Using Dubious
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." (Voltaire) (This captures a similar sentiment to being dubious)
"The line between genius and insanity is dubious." (Often attributed to various figures, highlighting the fine line between two seemingly opposite states, similar to the uncertainty implied by "dubious")
"I have my doubts." (A common phrase expressing dubiousness, though not a specific famous quote)
"Question everything." (A common adage encouraging a skeptical, and therefore somewhat dubious, approach)
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." (Carl Sagan) (This implies a healthy dubiousness towards claims lacking strong support)
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, even if I said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense."1 (Buddha) (This promotes a discerning, and thus potentially dubious, mindset)
"His promises were delivered with such fervor, yet I couldn't shake a dubious feeling about their feasibility."
"The expert's explanation, while technically sound, left me with a lingering dubiousness."
"She eyed the new technology dubiously, unsure if it would truly live up to the hype."
"The politician's sudden change of heart seemed dubious, raising questions about his true motives."
Etymology
"Dubious" comes from the Latin word "dubitāre," which means "to doubt." Think of it like this: if you're "dubious" about something, you're in "doubt" about it.
"Dubitāre" itself is related to "duo," meaning "two." This connection to "two" suggests the idea of being of two minds, or wavering between two possibilities, which is at the heart of doubt. Imagine holding two different ideas in your hands and not being sure which one to choose – that's the feeling of doubt, and it connects back to the "two" in "duo."
The word "dubious" entered the English language around the mid-16th century. Its first known uses were very similar to how we use it today: expressing uncertainty, doubt, or suspicion. So, right from the start, "dubious" has carried this sense of not being quite sure or having reservations about something. It's a word rooted in the idea of twoness (two options, two minds), leading to doubt, and finally, to the adjective "dubious."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dubious
Direct Use (Less Common in Idioms):
Dubious honor: This phrase sometimes appears, referring to an achievement that is questionable or not truly desirable (e.g., "winning" a contest that turns out to be rigged). While not a full idiom, it's a recurring collocation.
Dubious character: This refers to someone whose honesty or trustworthiness is questionable. Again, more descriptive than idiomatic.
Phrases Expressing Similar Concepts (More Common):
These phrases capture the essence of "dubiousness" even if they don't use the word itself:
To take something with a grain of salt: This idiom means to not fully believe something. It implies a degree of dubiousness about the information's accuracy.
To be on the fence: This describes a state of indecision or doubt, similar to being dubious about which course of action to take.
To have reservations about something: This expresses a feeling of doubt or unease, a key component of being dubious.
To be skeptical of something: Skepticism is a close synonym of dubiousness, and phrases like "I'm skeptical of that claim" are very common.
Something smells fishy: This idiom suggests that something is suspicious or questionable, akin to a dubious situation.
To be too good to be true: This phrase implies that something is so perfect it's likely a scam or deception, invoking a sense of dubiousness.
Original/Extended Examples (Illustrative):
A dubious proposition: (Descriptive phrase)
To look at something with a dubious eye: (Figurative, emphasizing the skeptical gaze)
To raise a dubious eyebrow: (Gestural, conveying skepticism)
"His smile was a dubious mask," (Figurative, suggesting insincerity)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dubious from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
