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Askance vs Dubious - What's the difference?

askance | dubious |

As adjectives the difference between askance and dubious

is that askance is turned to the side, especially of the eyes while dubious is arousing doubt; questionable; open to suspicion.

As an adverb askance

is (of a look or glance) with disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.

askance

English

Alternative forms

* askaunce (obsolete)

Adverb

(-)
  • (of a look or glance) With disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.
    • The beggar asked for change, but the haughty woman only looked at him askance .
  • * 1932 —
    • The scandal of opposition died down, and the stone-carver himself, though the town-folk continued to eye him askance , was able to secure other work through the favor of discriminating patrons.
  • * Gladstone
    • Both were viewed askance by authority.
  • * Landor
    • My palfrey eyed them askance .
  • Sideways; obliquely.
  • * 1896 — , chapter 8
    • I glanced askance at this strange creature, and found him watching me with his queer, restless eyes.
  • * 1878 — , chapter 1
    • ...the head-stones in the grave-yard beneath seemed to be holding themselves askance to keep it out of their faces.

    Synonyms

    * skeptically, suspiciously * obliquely, sideways

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Turned to the side, especially of the eyes.
  • * 1855 —
    • My first thought was, he lied in every word,
    That hoary cripple, with malicious eye
    Askance to watch the working of his lie

    Synonyms

    * (turned to the side) oblique, sideways

    dubious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Arousing doubt; questionable; open to suspicion.
    • After he made some dubious claims about the company, fewer people trusted him.
  • * 2011 , Nigel Jones, "A Tale of Two Scandals", History Today , February 2011, Vol. 61 Issue 2, pages 10–17
    • 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.
  • In disbelief; wavering, uncertain, or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt; undecided.
    • She was dubious about my plan at first, but later I managed to persuade her to cooperate.
  • * 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
    • 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 * dubiousness

    See also

    *