1
as in unsure
not feeling sure about the truth, wisdom, or trustworthiness of someone or something
he was doubtful about the decision to complete the project despite its mounting problems
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
the election results were highly doubtful, so an investigation was begun
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3
as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur
our winning the championship increasingly looks like a doubtful outcome
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4
as in disputable
open to question or dispute
a doubtful claim to the property
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doubtful
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
The bill is doubtful to get support from any Senate Democrat, but under special Senate rules, only 51 Republicans are needed to sign-off and avoid a filibuster.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Whether Afshar could have solved this is highly doubtful, since the problem rests heavily with Musk’s own decisions.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 27 June 2025
But some fear Newsom might even veto the $110 million, although this seems doubtful, given the public anger that could generate.
—George Skelton, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for doubtful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doubtful
Adjective
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Local media outlets earlier in the day said that Ishiba was unsure of his future and would take a call on whether to continue as prime minister in August.—
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If the Dodgers are unable to make a deal with Cleveland, there are other options on the market, but many teams are unsure of their path leading up to the trade deadline.—
Adjective
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Radically Simplify Recruitment & Marketing The vast machinery of admissions – glossy brochures, armies of recruiters crisscrossing the country, sophisticated enrollment management systems – consumes enormous resources with questionable ROI.—
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And Manu Garcia was added to the injury list as questionable late in the week, as well.—
Adjective
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So worst-case would be a fifth-place finish, which is unlikely.—
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Trump is unlikely to allow India’s policy toward Ukraine to determine the future of a U.S.-India deal or a thaw in trade tensions, for example, and likewise with China.—
Adjective
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Coastal elites are always skeptical about whether a fast-growth, deep tech company can be built in the Midwest.—
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In their interviews with town businessmen, the Sodality women try to convince the men that more hygienic practices will actually improve their bottom line, but the men are skeptical: why do anything new?—
Adjective
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But experts tell Fortune these employment disclosures are ethically dubious and have potential for legislative pushback.—
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The threat is unwarranted, the arguments are dubious, and the filing is remarkably short-sighted for any holder of a public media license.—
Adjective
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However, whether or not this type of use has less impact on social life or mental health is debatable.—
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While the usefulness of AI features may be debatable, years of OS and software support are not, which gives Samsung the decisive edge.—
Adjective
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Turquoise Alerts are for missing endangered persons under 65 in suspicious circumstances, while Silver Alerts are for those 65+ or with cognitive disabilities.—
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Cops said an investigation began when a woman who had recently paid for a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party noticed about $100 worth of suspicious charges on her credit card, the Democrat reported.—
Adjective
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Whether the court grants access to the grand jury documents remains uncertain, but for now, Trump appears determined to reclaim control of the narrative.—
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Still, for Connecticut’s two Job Corps centers, the future is uncertain.—
Cite this Entry
“Doubtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doubtful. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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