Is 'dubious' formal or informal?

What is the difference between 'dubious' and 'doubtful'?

How do I use 'dubious' in a sentence?

Is 'dubious' common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

dubious

/ˈdjuː.bi.əs/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Not fully believable; questionable; uncertain.

I have a dubious motive for helping.
The results look dubious to me.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: 'dubious' suits factual uncertainty, while 'suspicious' implies distrust. 'Questionable' is neutral, whereas 'dubious' can sound slightly informal. Choose 'dubious' for uncertain truth rather than moral doubt.

In other languages

Spanish: dudoso
Japanese: あやしい
Korean: 의심스러운
Vietnamese: có vấn đề
Chinese: 可疑的

Common phrases

dubious claimdubious sourceof dubious value

Synonyms

doubtful questionable uncertain skeptical suspicious

Frequently asked questions

Is 'dubious' formal or informal?: Is 'dubious' formal or informal?
What is the difference between 'dubious' and 'doubtful'?: What is the difference between 'dubious' and 'doubtful'?
How do I use 'dubious' in a sentence?: How do I use 'dubious' in a sentence?
Is 'dubious' common in academic writing?: Is 'dubious' common in academic writing?