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doubtful
/ˈdaʊt.fəl/
uncertain or suspicious
She was doubtful about the story he told.
She didn't believe the story because it seemed unreliable.
general
feeling uncertain about something; not sure.
I'm doubtful that the meeting will happen tomorrow.
I don't think the meeting will occur tomorrow.
He gave a doubtful reply to her question.
His answer suggested he didn't fully believe or trust the situation.
Often implies a lack of confidence or trust in the truthfulness or reliability of something.
general
causing or likely to cause doubt; questionable.
The evidence was doubtful and couldn't be trusted.
The proof provided was unreliable and suspicious.
Used to describe something that raises suspicion or is not credible.
Collocations
doubtful abouthaving doubts regarding somethingdoubtful ofsuspicious or distrustful of somethinghighly doubtfulvery unlikely or uncertain
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Avoid using 'doubtful' to mean 'feeling sad' or 'disappointed'. It specifically relates to uncertainty or suspicion, not emotions like sadness.
Gold Rule
Connotation
'Doubtful' often carries a negative connotation, implying that something is not trustworthy or is likely to fail.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'doutful', from Old English 'doubt' (uncertainty) + '-ful' (suffix meaning 'full of'). The word evolved from Latin 'dubitare' (to doubt) and entered English via Old French 'douter'.
Usage Notes
Used to express skepticism or lack of conviction. Common in both spoken and written English, particularly in contexts where evidence or reliability is questioned.
Word Breakdown
doubt
uncertainty or lack of conviction
root-ful
full of or characterized by
suffixEnglish Dictionary