dubious

Adjective

US[doo-bee-uhs]/ˈdubiəs/3 syllables

Open English WordNet

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”Synonyms: doubtfulOpposite certain, sureSimilar uncertain, unsure
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”Synonyms: doubtful dubitable in questionOpposite unquestionableSimilar questionable
not convinced“they admitted the force of my argument but remained dubious”Opposite convincedSimilar unconvinced

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Du′bi·ous adjective

Origin: L. dubius, dubiosus, fr. duo two. See Two, and cf. Doubt.

1. Doubtful or not settled in opinion; being in doubt; wavering or fluctuating; undetermined. “Dubious policy.” Sir T. Scott.

A dubious, agitated state of mind.— William M. Thackeray

2. Occasioning doubt; not clear, or obvious; equivocal; questionable; doubtful; as, a dubious answer.

Wiping the dingy shirt with a still more dubious pocket handkerchief.— William M. Thackeray

3. Of uncertain event or issue; as, in dubious battle.

Synonyms: Doubtful; doubting; unsettled; undetermined; equivocal; uncertain. Cf. Doubtful.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54