adj
Uncommon
dubious
JOO-bee-uhs
Dubious (adj) means causing doubt or suspicion; of questionable quality or honesty. Example: “He made a dubious claim about curing illness with crystals.”
adj
1
Causing doubt or suspicion; of questionable quality or honesty.
"He made a dubious claim about curing illness with crystals."
"The company's dubious accounting practices eventually caught up with it."
2
Feeling uncertain or hesitant about something.
"She looked dubious when he promised the plan would work."
How to use dubious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot fully trustworthy or certain — either something suspicious, or a feeling of doubt.
Common pairings
dubious claim
dubious honour
look dubious
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more dubious
- Superlative
- most dubious
Fill the gap
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He made a _____ claim about curing illness with crystals.
Etymology
From Latin dubius, related to duo ("two") — the idea of being torn between two possibilities.
Related words
Rhymes for dubious
See all rhymes for dubious →Frequently asked questions
What does “dubious” mean?
The word “dubious” means causing doubt or suspicion; of questionable quality or honesty. In plain terms, not fully trustworthy or certain — either something suspicious, or a feeling of doubt.
How do you pronounce “dubious”?
“Dubious” is pronounced JOO-bee-uhs (/ˈdu.bi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “dubious” in a sentence?
Here is “dubious” used in a sentence: “He made a dubious claim about curing illness with crystals.”
What part of speech is “dubious”?
“Dubious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “dubious” come from?
The word “dubious” comes from Latin. From Latin dubius, related to duo ("two") — the idea of being torn between two possibilities.
Is “dubious” a common word?
“Dubious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dubious” have?
“Dubious” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing doubt or suspicion; of questionable quality or honesty.
