doubtful

/'dautful/

Thân thiện

She looked doubtful when asked if she had finished her homework.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling or showing uncertainty or lack of conviction: Describes a state of mind where one is unsure, hesitant, or not fully convinced about something.
   • Open to question or dispute; not certain or settled: Refers to something that is questionable, ambiguous, or not clearly established.
   • Of uncertain outcome; not likely or probable: Indicates a low probability of success or a negative result.

Usage and Examples

• To express personal uncertainty:

  • She was doubtful about the plan's feasibility. (She was not convinced the plan would work.)
  • I am doubtful that he will arrive on time. (I am not confident he will be punctual.)

• To describe something as questionable or ambiguous:

  • The authenticity of the document is doubtful. (The document's genuineness is suspect.)
  • He gave a doubtful answer, avoiding a clear commitment. (His answer was non-committal and unclear.)

• To indicate an unlikely or improbable outcome:

  • The team's chances of winning now look doubtful. (It now seems unlikely the team will win.)
  • It is doubtful whether the project will receive funding. (It is not probable that the project will get funds.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be doubtful of/about something": To have reservations or lack confidence in something.
  • Investors are increasingly doubtful of the company's long-term strategy.
• "In doubtful cases": In situations where the outcome or correctness is uncertain.
  • In doubtful cases, the committee will seek external advice.

Variants and Related Words

• Doubtfully (adverb): In a manner showing uncertainty.
  • She looked at him doubtfully, unsure whether to believe his story.
• Doubtfulness (noun): The state or quality of being doubtful.
  • The doubtfulness of the evidence led to an acquittal.

Synonyms

• Uncertain: Not able to be relied on; not known or definite.
• Dubious: Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon.
• Questionable: Doubtful as to truth or quality.
• Tentative: Not certain or fixed; provisional.

Antonyms

• Certain: Known for sure; established beyond doubt.
• Confident: Feeling or showing certainty about something.
• Definite: Clearly stated or decided; not vague.

Idioms and Phrases

• A doubtful proposition: An idea or plan that is unlikely to succeed or be accepted.
  • Trying to finish the work in one day is a doubtful proposition.
• Cast doubt on: To cause something to be questioned or viewed with suspicion.
  • The new evidence cast doubt on the original verdict. (Note: This phrase uses "doubt," not "doubtful," but is conceptually related.)

Học thuật

Adjective

1. unsettled in mind or opinion
   • drew a few tentative conclusions
2. 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. 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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• tentative
• dubious
• dubitable
• in question