What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Dubious vs Unsavory - What's the difference?

dubious | unsavory |

As adjectives the difference between dubious and unsavory

is that dubious is arousing doubt; questionable; open to suspicion while unsavory is not savory; without flavor.

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

    *

    unsavory

    English

    Alternative forms

    * unsavoury (UK)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not savory; without flavor.
  • Of bad taste; distasteful.
  • Making an activity undesirable.
  • Disreputable, not respectable, of questionable moral character.
    • His unsavory reputation as a mobster came back to haunt him when he ran for mayor of New York.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "unsavory" is often applied: reputation, character, aspect, element, practice, friend, tactics.