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Ambivalence vs Doubtful - What's the difference?

ambivalence | doubtful |

As a noun ambivalence

is the coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea.

As an adjective doubtful is

subject to, or causing doubt.

ambivalence

English

Noun

  • The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea.
  • A state of uncertainty or indecisiveness.

    • Usage notes

    This word is often used as to express a lack of concern about the outcome of a choice to be made [http://www.google.com.au/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-10,GGLJ:en&q=ambivalent+to+mean+indifferent]. In this case, a more appropriate word to use is indifference. The confusion is probably caused by the similarity of sounds between the two words and the passive sound of the word.

    Related terms

    * ambivalent

    doubtful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * doubtfull (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Subject to, or causing doubt
  • or showing doubt, sceptical
  • Undecided or of uncertain outcome
  • (obsolete) Fearsome, dreadful.
  • *, Bk.XIV, Ch.vii:
  • *:‘With whom,’ seyde Sir Percivale, ‘shall I fyght?’ ‘With the moste douteful champion of the worlde.’
  • Improbable or unlikely
  • Suspicious, or of dubious character
  • Unclear or unreliable
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=E.R. Eddison, title=The Worm Ouroboros
    • , passage=The pupils of her great eyes were large in the doubtful lamplight, swallowing their green fires in deep pools of mystery and darkness.}}