Words / B2

DOWTFL/ˈdaʊtfl/

Doubtful means not certain, or probably not true or not likely: doubtful about; it is doubtful whether. Doubt is the noun (already in the dictionary); uncertain is a close twin; unlikely is the probability twin. A doubtful claim still needs a named source. Mix-up: doubtful vs undoubted; doubtless; do not write doubtful for a proven figure in the table.

Meaning

Not certain; probably not true or not likely to happen (doubtful about / of).

Examples

• “A doubtful claim still needs a named source, the handbook said.”
• “It is doubtful whether the sample is large enough, the methods brief said, which is the unlikely sense — still quote the n.”

Good to know

doubtful about / of / whether; a doubtful claim. Noun: doubt. Close: uncertain / unlikely. Trap: doubtless. Methods, citizenship, and science. Uncertain or unlikely — name the source or quote the n.

Near in meaning

uncertain, unlikely, questionable

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