Master confusing words with ease
Doubtful vs. Dubious
Doubtful
/ˈdaʊtfəl/Examples:
She's doubtful about the project's completion on time.The detective found the alibi highly doubtful.Despite his charm, his intentions were doubtful.
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Antonyms:
Dubious
/ˈdjuːbiəs/Examples:
His constant excuses seemed dubious to his friends.The contract terms raised some dubious points.Detectives found her testimony rather dubious.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Both doubtful and dubious imply a lack of certainty, but doubtful is typically more neutral or factual, whereas dubious often carries a negative connotation.
- Think of doubtful as simply being unsure, while dubious not only means uncertainty but also suggests suspicion or disbelief.
- Doubtful can be related to uncertain outcomes, whereas dubious often implies something looks skeptical or questionable.
- If youre uncertain about the truth, youre doubtful; if you think somethings fishy, youre dubious.
- Remember, a doubtful person might be unsure, but a dubious character might not be trustworthy.
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