Dubious vs Skeptical - What's the difference?
dubious | skeptical |
Arousing doubt; questionable; open to suspicion.
* 2011 , Nigel Jones, "A Tale of Two Scandals", History Today , February 2011, Vol. 61 Issue 2, pages 10–17
In disbelief; wavering, uncertain, or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt; undecided.
* 2010 , John M. Broder, "Global Climate-Change Talks Begin in Cancun With More Modest Expectations", New York Times , November 30, Section A, Column 0, Foreign Desk, page 12
Having, or expressing doubt; questioning.
* {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
, author=Colin Allen
, title=Do I See What You See?
, volume=100, issue=2, page=168
, magazine=(American Scientist)
Of or relating to skepticism or the skeptics.
As adjectives the difference between dubious and skeptical
is that dubious is arousing doubt; questionable; open to suspicion while skeptical is having, or expressing doubt; questioning.dubious
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- After he made some dubious claims about the company, fewer people trusted him.
- Evasive, womanising, boastful, malicious, untrustworthy, an inveterate gambler who combined his mediocre military career with running a high-class brothel, permanently cash strapped and viciously quarrelsome, his character is as dubious as his unsavoury appearance.
- She was dubious about my plan at first, but later I managed to persuade her to cooperate.
- Last year, President Obama had large majorities in Congress and hopes of passing a comprehensive climate and energy bill. Next year, he faces a new Congress much more dubious about the reality of climate change and considerably more hostile to international efforts to deal with it.
Derived terms
* dubious honor / dubious honour * dubiously * dubiousnessSee also
*skeptical
English
Alternative forms
* sceptical (British English)Adjective
(en adjective)citation, passage=Numerous experimental tests and other observations have been offered in favor of animal mind reading, and although many scientists are skeptical , others assert that humans are not the only species capable of representing what others do and don’t perceive and know.}}
- My teacher was skeptical when I told her my dog ate my homework.
- I can see why people are so skeptical [sic] about him, but I think he's on to something here. (regarded by organizations such as the
BBC
as an error)