dubious
gb/dˈubiəs/ us/dˈubiəs/
B2
Engleză
~ 9200
Sensuri
0 sensuri
adjective
B2
state
1
feeling doubtful or unconvinced
Not sure if something is good, true, or will work; feeling unsure or suspicious about it.
Tipar de utilizare:
be dubious about [something]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes think 'dubious' means simply 'bad' or 'terrible'. It actually describes a feeling of doubt or suspicion, not the basic quality. Also, learners may say 'dubious of' instead of the more natural 'dubious about'.
Sinonime
skeptical (Stronger and more analytical; often used when someone doubts because they need more proof.)
|
doubtful (Very close in meaning, but slightly more general and common in everyday speech.)
Antonime
convinced (Shows that someone is sure and fully believes something, the opposite of being doubtful.)
|
confident (Expresses a strong feeling that something is true or will succeed.)
Colocații
be dubious about
|seem dubious about
|remain dubious about
|sound dubious
|look dubious
|deeply dubious about
Teme
thinking
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- I’m a bit dubious about the accuracy of these numbers.
- The board was initially dubious about investing so much money in an untested idea.
- She gave me a dubious look when I said the train would definitely be on time.
- Many voters are still dubious about the candidate’s promises.
- He sounded dubious on the phone, as if he didn’t fully believe our explanation.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- I am dubious about this plan.
- My parents are dubious about my new job.
- She looks dubious when he talks about his past.
- The teacher is dubious about the students’ excuse.
- He is still dubious about moving to another country.
adjective
C1
property
2
of doubtful truth or quality
Probably not true, good, or reliable, even if someone says it is.
Tipar de utilizare:
a dubious [claim/result/benefit/achievement]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with simply 'unclear'. 'Dubious' suggests that something is not just unclear but also probably not true, not as good as claimed, or not well supported by facts.
Sinonime
questionable (Very close in meaning; commonly used when something may not be correct, fair, or of good quality.)
|
shaky (Informal; suggests weak support or evidence, so something is not very reliable.)
Antonime
credible (Stresses that something is believable and has strong support or evidence.)
|
reliable (Emphasizes that something can be trusted to be correct or consistent.)
Colocații
dubious claim
|dubious result
|dubious statistics
|dubious benefits
|dubious evidence
|dubious distinction
Teme
evaluation
|science
|business
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- The company made dubious claims about the health benefits of its product.
- Critics have pointed out the dubious quality of the research behind these conclusions.
- He has a rather dubious record of keeping his promises.
- The supposed savings from the merger look dubious once you examine the details.
- Their survey methods are dubious, so the results may not be trustworthy.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- These numbers come from a dubious source.
- The study is based on dubious data.
- Many people think this is a dubious claim.
- The benefits of the new law are still dubious.
- We got a dubious result from the first test.
unknown
C1
property
3
morally or legally suspect
Probably not honest, not moral, or maybe illegal.
Tipar de utilizare:
dubious [business/practice/deal/source]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes use 'dubious' here when they only mean 'unusual' or 'strange'. This sense usually suggests a moral or legal problem, not just something odd or different.
Sinonime
shady (Informal; strongly suggests secret, dishonest, or illegal behavior.)
|
suspect (Suggests something is not to be trusted and may be wrong or illegal.)
Antonime
respectable (Stresses that someone or something is socially accepted as honest and moral.)
|
aboveboard (Emphasizes that actions are open, honest, and clearly legal.)
Colocații
dubious business practices
|dubious reputation
|dubious dealings
|dubious characters
|dubious sources of income
|dubious background
Teme
ethics
|law
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- The charity was shut down after investigators uncovered several dubious financial arrangements.
- He made his fortune through rather dubious business practices.
- They decided not to work with such a dubious group of investors.
- The company has a dubious reputation when it comes to labor rights.
- Officials are looking into the politician’s dubious connections to foreign donors.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- He is known for dubious business deals.
- The money came from a dubious source.
- She has a dubious reputation in this town.
- They refused to join such a dubious project.
- The police are watching his dubious friends.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
dubious
IPA
GB/dˈubiəs/
US/dˈubiəs/
Silabe și accent
du - bi - ous (3 silabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (du)
Forme ale cuvântului
Adjective
- Base: dubious
Familie de cuvinte
Related words
doubtfully
adverb
doubtfulness
noun
dubiousness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
undoubted
adjective
undoubtedly
adverb B2
Advanced or less common
doubtless
adjective B2
doubter
noun
Expresii
be dubious about
1/bˈi dˈubiəs əbˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
feel doubtful about something
To not fully believe or trust something; to feel unsure or suspicious about it.
Exemple
- I’m dubious about the plan to cut prices so sharply.
- Many experts are dubious about the long-term benefits of the policy.
have the dubious honor of
1/hˈæv ðə dˈubiəs ˈɑnɚ əv/
idiom
receive an unwanted 'honor'
To be chosen for something that sounds like an honor, but is actually unpleasant, embarrassing, or not really good.
Exemple
- She had the dubious honor of announcing the company’s job cuts.
- Our team had the dubious honor of finishing last three years in a row.
of dubious distinction
1/əv dˈubiəs dɪstˈɪŋkʃən/
idiom
formal
notable in an unwanted way
Used when something is called a 'distinction' or 'honor' but is actually bad or embarrassing, not something to be proud of.
Exemple
- Our city now has the dubious distinction of having the worst traffic in the country.
- He enjoys the dubious distinction of being the first player ever sent off in a final.