Definitions for doubtful
ˈdaʊt fəldoubt·ful

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. doubtful, dubious, dubitable, in question(p)adjective

   open to doubt or suspicion

   "the candidate's doubtful past"; "he has a dubious record indeed"; "what one found uncertain the other found dubious or downright false"; "it was more than dubitable whether the friend was as influential as she thought"- Karen Horney

2. doubtful, dubiousadjective

   fraught with uncertainty or doubt

   "they were doubtful that the cord would hold"; "it was doubtful whether she would be admitted"; "dubious about agreeing to go"

3. doubtful, tentativeadjective

   unsettled in mind or opinion

   "drew a few tentative conclusions"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. doubtfuladjective

   Subject to, or causing doubt

2. doubtfuladjective

   Experiencing or showing doubt

3. doubtfuladjective

   Undecided or of uncertain outcome

4. doubtfuladjective

   Fearsome, dreadful.

5. doubtfuladjective

   Improbable or unlikely

6. doubtfuladjective

   Suspicious, or of dubious character

7. doubtfuladjective

   Unclear or unreliable

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Doubtfuladjective

   Etymology: doubt and full.

   1. Dubious; not settled in opinion.

   Methinks I should know you, and know this man;
   Yet I am doubtful. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   2. Ambiguous; not clear in its meaning.3. That about which there is doubt; that which is not yet determined or decided; obscure; questionable; uncertain.

   In handling the right of a war, I am not willing to intermix matter doubtful with that which is out of doubt; for as in capital causes, wherein but one man’s life is in question, the evidence ought to be clear; so much more in a judgment upon a war, which is capital to thousands. Francis Bacon.

   In doubtful cases, reason still determines for the safer side; especially if the case be not only doubtful, but also highly concerning, and the venture be a soul, and an eternity. South.

   Themetes first, ’tis doubtful whether hir’d,
   Or so the Trojan destiny requir’d,
   Mov’d, that the ramparts might be broken down,
   To lodge the monster fabrick in the town. John Dryden, Æn.

   4. Not secure; not without suspicion.

   Our manner is always to cast a doubtful and a more suspicious eye towards that, over which we know we have least power. Richard Hooker, Dedication.

   5. Not confident; not without fear.

   With doubtful feet and wavering resolution
   I come, still dreading thy displeasure, Samson. John Milton, Agonist.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. doubtful

   Doubt is a mental state in which the mind remains suspended between two or more contradictory propositions, unable to be certain of any of them. Doubt on an emotional level is indecision between belief and disbelief. It may involve uncertainty, distrust or lack of conviction on certain facts, actions, motives, or decisions. Doubt can result in delaying or rejecting relevant action out of concern for mistakes or missed opportunities.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Doubtfuladjective

   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

2. Doubtfuladjective

   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

3. Doubtfuladjective

   characterized by ambiguity; dubious; as, a doubtful expression; a doubtful phrase

4. Doubtfuladjective

   of uncertain issue or event

5. Doubtfuladjective

   fearful; apprehensive; suspicious

British National Corpus

1. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'doubtful' in Adjectives Frequency: #883

How to pronounce doubtful?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say doubtful in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of doubtful in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of doubtful in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of doubtful in a Sentence

1. Herbert Hensley Henson:

   Men are doubtful and skeptical about the Church they suspect and dislike the clergy they are impatient of theological systems but for Jesus Christ, as he stand out to view in the sacred pages, as they dimly realize him in their own best selves, as they catch faint traces of him in the lives of his saints, they have no other sentiments than those of respect and affection.

2. Sallust:

   All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity.

3. David Hendler:

   The question of where the real earnings power will come from for Deutsche Bank going forward has not been answered, it's doubtful whether they will be able to build a better bank in just three years.

4. Ellen Fitzpatrick:

   The message is one of very brisk activism on the part of The President to address the crisis at hand, which of course is what Franklin Roosevelt did as well, i think the level of activism on Biden's part is very, very notable. President Biden ambition is great. President Biden success may be more doubtful. But I think this shift in tone is itself important.

5. Machiavelli:

   It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all those who would profit by the old order, only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new.

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