Lexic.us

Definition of Doubtful

1. Adjective. Open to doubt or suspicion. "It was more than dubitable whether the friend was as influential as she thought"

2. Adjective. Fraught with uncertainty or doubt. "Dubious about agreeing to go"

3. Adjective. Unsettled in mind or opinion. "Drew a few tentative conclusions"

Definition of Doubtful

1. a. Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating in belief; also used, metaphorically, of the body when its action is affected by such a state of mind; as, we are doubtful of a fact, or of the propriety of a measure.

Definition of Doubtful

1. Adjective. Subject to, or causing doubt ¹

2. Adjective. Experiencing or showing doubt ¹

3. Adjective. Undecided or of uncertain outcome ¹

4. Adjective. (obsolete) Fearsome, dreadful. ¹

5. Adjective. Improbable or unlikely ¹

6. Adjective. Suspicious, or of dubious character ¹

7. Adjective. Unclear or unreliable ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Doubtful

1. uncertain [adj] - See also: uncertain

Medical Definition of Doubtful

1. 1. Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating in belief; also used, metaphorically, of the body when its action is affected by such a state of mind; as, we are doubtful of a fact, or of the propriety of a measure. "Methinks I should know you, and know this man; yet I am doubtful." (Shak) "With doubtful feet and wavering resolution." (Milton) 2. Admitting of doubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable; not decided; not easy to be defined, classed, or named; as, a doubtful case, hue, claim, title, species, and the like. "Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good." (Shak) "Is it a great cruelty to expel from our abode the enemy of our peace, or even the doubtful friend [i. E, one as to whose sincerity there may be doubts]?" (Bancroft) 3. Characterised by ambiguity; dubious; as, a doubtful expression; a doubtful phrase. 4. Of uncertain issue or event. "We . . . Have sustained one day in doubtful fight." (Milton) "The strife between the two principles had been long, fierce, and doubtful." (Macaulay) 5. Fearful; apprehensive; suspicious. "I am doubtful that you have been conjunct And bosomed with her." (Shak) Synonym: Wavering, vacillating, hesitating, undetermined, distrustful, dubious, uncertain, equivocal, ambiguous, problematical, questionable. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Doubtful

doublures doubly doubly armed suture doubly even doubly heterozygous doubly labeled water doubly magic doubly transitive verb doubly transitive verb form doubt

doubtable doubtance doubted doubter doubters doubtful (current term) doubtfull doubtfuller doubtfully doubtfulness

doubtfulnesses doubtfuls doubting doubting Thomas doubting Thomases doubtingly doubtings doubtless doubtlessly doubtlessness

Literary usage of Doubtful

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Edwin Booth, Henry L Hinton (1867)
"How all the other passions fleet to air, As doubtful thoughts, ... stand I, even so, As doubtful whether what I see be true, Until confirm'd, sign'd, ..."

2. Publications by English Dialect Society (1875)
"doubtful 00', perhaps ... But as this is also a Scotch sound, native to Dr. Murray, who had not recognized it, this appreciation appeared very doubtful. ..."

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