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Added 9 October 2026

doubtful

/ˈdaʊtfəl/ adjective

In Latin: dubius Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about doubtful at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Open to doubt or suspicion.
the candidate's doubtful past
Fraught with uncertainty or doubt.
they were doubtful that the cord would hold
Unsettled in mind or opinion.
drew a few tentative conclusions

Origin

From Middle English doutfull, douteful, equivalent to doubt + -ful.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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