Dubious meaning

Adjective: dubious

Pronunciation: (d(y)oo-bee-us)

Dubious meaning:

• Fraught with uncertainty or doubt.
• Open to doubt or suspicion.
• Not convinced.

Synonyms: doubtful,questionable,dubitable

Quotations: Hannah Arendt – The more dubious and uncertain an instrument violence has become in international relations, the more it has gained in reputation and appeal in domestic affairs, specifically in the matter of revolution.

Robert Anton Wilson – Since theological propositions are scientifically meaningless, those of us of pragmatic disposition simply won’t buy such dubious merchandise. Maybe remotely there might be something in such promotions, as there might be something in the talking dogs and the stocks in Arabian tapioca mines that W.C. Fields once sold in his comedies, but we suspect that we recognize a con game in operation. At least, we want to hear the dog talk or see the tapioca ore before we buy into such deals.

Helen Thomas – I told the young leaders that the 21st Century is theirs and they should not blow it. Try to reject war and give peace a chance. Question the powers that be and find out why they make the dubious decisions they do that send young people to war.

Sample sentences:

• The honors Hollywood has for the writer are as dubious as tissue-paper cuff links.
• New Jersey has the dubious distinction of being one of the more difficult states in which to do business.
• An excellent job with a dubious undertaking, which is like saying it would be great if it wasn’t awful.
• Both these teams played their hearts out tonight. It’s sad that we had some dubious things happen at the end but really, it was our turnovers. We just can’t afford double-digit turnovers in a half. It’s almost hard to believe.
• Lenders now feel the agenda has changed, with inquiries looking at virtually every source of income. Some aspect of these inquiries appears to be based upon an assumption of excess profitability. This seems dubious when you look at the numbers.