If it is doubtfulthat something will happen, it seems unlikely to happen or you are uncertain whether it will happen.
For a time it seemed doubtful that he would move at all.
It is doubtful whether Tweed, even with his fluent French, passed for one of thelocals.
Whether the authorities will allow inspection is highly doubtful.
Synonyms: unlikely, unclear, dubious, unsettled More Synonyms of doubtful
2. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are doubtfulabout something, you feel unsure or uncertain about it.
I was still very doubtful about the chances for success. [+ about]
Why did he sound so doubtful?
Synonyms: unsure, uncertain, hesitant, suspicious More Synonyms of doubtful
doubtfullyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
Keeton shook his head doubtfully.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you say that something is ofdoubtful quality or value, you mean that it is of low quality or value.
[disapproval]
...selling something that is overpriced or of doubtful quality.
They also seemed of very doubtful value.
...information that he described as having doubtful reliability.
Synonyms: questionable, suspect, suspicious, crooked [informal] More Synonyms of doubtful
4. adjective
If a sports player is doubtfulfor a match or event, he or she seems unlikely to play, usually because of injury.
[journalism]
Forsyth is doubtful for tonight's game with a badly bruised leg.
doubtful in British English
(ˈdaʊtfʊl)
adjective
1.
unlikely; improbable
2.
characterized by or causing doubt; uncertain
a doubtful answer
3.
unsettled; unresolved
4.
of questionable reputation or morality
5.
having reservations or misgivings
6.
(of a sportsperson) not likely to be fit enough to play or take part
noun
7.
a person who is undecided or uncertain about an issue
8.
a sportsperson who is not likely to be fit enough to play or take part
▶ USAGE It was formerly considered correct to use whether after doubtful (it is doubtful whether he will come), but now if and that are also acceptable
Derived forms
doubtfully (ˈdoubtfully)
adverb
doubtfulness (ˈdoubtfulness)
noun
doubtful in American English
(ˈdaʊtfəl)
adjective
1.
in doubt; not clear or definite; ambiguous
2.
not clearly predictable; uncertain; unsure
3.
giving rise to doubt or suspicion; questionable, as in reputation
4.
feeling doubt; unsettled in opinion or belief
SYNONYMY NOTE: doubtful implies strong uncertainty as to the probability, value, honesty, validity, etc.of something [a doubtful remedy]; dubious is less strong, suggesting merely vague suspicion or hesitancy [dubious about the future]; questionable strictly suggests only that there is some reason for doubt, but it is often usedas a euphemism to imply strong suspicion, almost amounting to certainty, of immorality,dishonesty, etc. [a questionable reputation]; problematic implies only uncertainty with no suggestion of a moral question [a problematic success]
OPPOSITES: certain, sure
Derived forms
doubtfully (ˈdoubtfully)
adverb
doubtfulness (ˈdoubtfulness)
noun
Word origin
ME douteful
Examples of 'doubtful' in a sentence
doubtful
And two of those look increasingly doubtful runners as fears grow about the weather and going.
The Sun (2012)
Life shuttles by way too fast for these doubtful little games.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
Whether there is such a thing as a profit motive at all is highly doubtful.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
Some claims for its benefits remain doubtful.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Yet it seems doubtful that any court would let such an action succeed.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It is highly doubtful that better bus services would change matters.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some of his other viewpoints seem more doubtful.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
For the first act the answer seemed doubtful.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The intelligence gained under duress would be of doubtful value and immensely costly to the integrity of democratic governments.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It seems very doubtful whether a revolution in popular habits should be attempted when the public mind is obsessed with a war.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's also doubtful they have the discipline.
Davidow, William H. & Uttal, Bro Total Customer Service (The Ultimate Weapon) (1990)
We stayed in a hotel with a doubtful reputation, but it was magic to me.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He will be assessed by the England medical team but he looks doubtful.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is highly doubtful as we look at the options and find it is largely a case of rounding up the usual suspects.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Whether this will be enough to cause the remotest stir in Germany this summer remains doubtful.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But whether it will still be on our screens in 2018 is highly doubtful.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Her father supports the attempt, but his former wife remains doubtful.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But whether they (or the rest of us) will get certainty before the next election looks doubtful.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He is also doubtful for the final group E game against Italy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
With petrol prices low, it is highly unlikely he will heed their call, but also doubtful he will increase the tax after four years of freezes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
doubtful
British English: doubtful /ˈdaʊtfʊl/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is doubtful seems unlikely or uncertain.
It is doubtful whether he will appear again.
American English: doubtful
Arabic: مَشْكُوك فِيه
Brazilian Portuguese: duvidoso
Chinese: 疑惑的
Croatian: sumnjičav
Czech: nepravděpodobný
Danish: tvivlsom
Dutch: twijfelachtig
European Spanish: dudoso
Finnish: kyseenalainen
French: douteux
German: zweifelhaft
Greek: αμφίβολος
Italian: dubbioso
Japanese: 疑わしい
Korean: 의심스러운
Norwegian: tvilsom
Polish: wątpliwy
European Portuguese: duvidoso
Romanian: nesigur
Russian: сомнительный
Latin American Spanish: dubitativo
Swedish: tveksam
Thai: เป็นที่สงสัย
Turkish: kuşkulu
Ukrainian: сумнівний
Vietnamese: đáng nghi
Chinese translation of 'doubtful'
doubtful
(ˈdautful)
adj
(= questionable)
it is doubtful that/whether ... 不能确(確)定 ... /是否 ... (bùnéng quèdìng ... /shìfǒu ... )
(= unconvinced)[person]
to be doubtful that/whether ... 怀(懷)疑 ... /是否 ... (huáiyí ... /shìfǒu ... )
to be doubtful about sth对(對)某事有怀(懷)疑 (duì mǒushì yǒu huáiyí)
I'm a bit doubtful我有点(點)怀(懷)疑 (wǒ yǒu diǎn huáiyí)
dodgy (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal)
questionable
ambiguous
His remarks clarify an ambiguous statement given earlier this week.
improbable
It seems improbable that this year's figure will show a drop.
indefinite
a person of indefinite age
unconfirmed
inconclusive
Research has so far proved inconclusive.
debatable
It is debatable whether or not they were ever properly compensated.
indeterminate
I hope to carry on for an indeterminate period.
iffy (informal)
His political future is looking iffy.
equivocal
Her equivocal response gave nothing away.
inexact
Forecasting was an inexact science.
Opposites
certain
,
definite
,
indubitable
2 (adjective)
Definition
unsure or uncertain
Why did he sound so doubtful?
Synonyms
unsure
Fifty-two per cent were unsure about the idea.
uncertain
He stopped, uncertain how to put the question tactfully.
hesitant
I was hesitant about accepting the invitation.
suspicious
He has his father's suspicious nature.
hesitating
sceptical
scientists who are sceptical about global warming
unsettled
They were in the process of resolving all the unsettled issues.
tentative
My first attempts at complaining were very tentative.
wavering
unresolved
The dispute between the two parties remains unresolved.
perplexed
undecided
She was still undecided as to what career she wanted to pursue.
unconvinced
Most consumers seem unconvinced that the recession is over.
vacillating
He has proved weak, indecisive and vacillating.
leery (slang)
They are leery of the proposed system.
distrustful
Voters are distrustful of all politicians.
in two minds (informal)
irresolute
They launched the attack for fear of seeming irresolute.
Opposites
decided
,
certain
,
positive
,
resolute
3 (adjective)
They all seemed of very doubtful character.
Synonyms
questionable
The film is a comedy in highly questionable taste.
suspect
Delegates evacuated the building when a suspect package was found.
suspicious
two suspicious-looking characters
crooked (informal)
She might expose his crooked business deals to the authorities.
dubious
dubious business dealings
dodgy (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal)
slippery
a slippery customer
shady (informal)
Be wary of people who try to talk you into shady deals.
unscrupulous
fishy (informal)
There seems to be something fishy going on.
shifty
He had a shifty face and previous convictions.
disreputable
untrustworthy
shonky (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
Usage note
In the past, whether was the only word considered acceptable for linking the adjective doubtful in the sense of `improbable' to a following clause, for example it is doubtful whether he will come. Nowadays, however, doubtful if and doubtful that are also considered acceptable.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ambiguous
Definition
having more than one possible interpretation
His remarks clarify an ambiguous statement given earlier this week.
Synonyms
unclear,
puzzling,
uncertain,
obscure,
vague,
doubtful,
dubious,
enigmatic,
indefinite,
inconclusive,
cryptic,
indeterminate,
equivocal,
Delphic,
oracular,
enigmatical,
clear as mud (informal)
in the sense of crooked
Definition
dishonest or illegal
She might expose his crooked business deals to the authorities.
Synonyms
dishonest,
criminal,
illegal,
corrupt,
dubious,
questionable,
unlawful,
shady (informal),
fraudulent,
unscrupulous,
under-the-table,
bent (slang),
shifty,
deceitful,
underhand,
unprincipled,
dishonourable,
nefarious,
knavish (archaic)
in the sense of debatable
Definition
not absolutely certain
It is debatable whether or not they were ever properly compensated.