doubt

13 synonyms and 6 antonyms for doubt, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To feel uncertain about something, or to believe it is unlikely to be true.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

question

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

query uncertainty

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

disbelieve mistrust be unsure be uncertain be skeptical of hesitate over dubiety incertitude dubiousness doubtfulness

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To feel uncertain about something, or to believe it is unlikely to be true.

“Many people doubted that the old bridge could survive another winter.”

question disbelieve mistrust be unsure be uncertain be skeptical of query hesitate over uncertainty dubiety incertitude dubiousness doubtfulness

Opposites

believe

2. noun

A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction about something.

“Despite a few early doubts, the team soon felt confident about the new plan.”

dubiety question incertitude doubtfulness uncertainty dubiousness

Opposites

belief conviction faith certainty confidence

How to use doubt

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

no doubt doubt it benefit of the doubt without a doubt

Etymology

From Old French douter, ultimately from Latin dubitare, "to be uncertain, to waver." The silent "b" was added later by scholars trying to match the Latin spelling.

Full origin of doubt →

Frequently asked questions

What does “doubt” mean?

The word “doubt” means to feel uncertain about something, or to believe it is unlikely to be true. In plain terms, not being sure, or not quite believing something is true.

How do you pronounce “doubt”?

“Doubt” is pronounced dowt (/daʊt/ in IPA).

How do you use “doubt” in a sentence?

Here is “doubt” used in a sentence: “I doubt he'll actually show up on time.”

What part of speech is “doubt”?

Depending on how it is used, “doubt” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “doubt” come from?

The word “doubt” comes from Latin. From Old French douter, ultimately from Latin dubitare, "to be uncertain, to waver." The silent "b" was added later by scholars trying to match the Latin spelling.

Is “doubt” a common word?

“Doubt” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “doubt” have?

“Doubt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to feel uncertain about something, or to believe it is unlikely to be true.

What is the difference between doubt and distrust?

To doubt is to feel uncertain about whether something is true or likely — you doubt a claim, a fact, or an outcome. To distrust is to lack confidence in a person's honesty or reliability — you distrust someone's motives. Doubt centers on truth; distrust centers on trustworthiness. You might doubt a story yet not distrust the storyteller.

What is the opposite of doubt?

As a verb, the opposite of doubt is to believe, trust, or be certain. Where doubting means questioning whether something is true, believing means accepting it. Related opposites include "be confident," "be sure," and "accept." The noun doubt contrasts with certainty, conviction, and faith.

Is doubt a negative word?

Doubt is neutral, though it leans cautious. It can be healthy — questioning claims before accepting them is the basis of critical thinking and good science. It becomes negative when it tips into self-doubt or paralysis. In itself, to doubt simply means to hold something as uncertain rather than settled.

Related words

dubiety dubious

People also searched

believe question faith confidence belief conviction uncertainty certainty query mistrust dubiousness disbelieve

Nearby words

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