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doubt

/daʊt/

/daʊt/

Other forms: doubts; doubted; doubting

Doubt is distrust or suspicion. When your kid sister explains that a robber broke in and ate your entire chocolate stash, most likely you feel doubt.

When you're in doubt, you really can't tell what's true and what's false, whether that's a news story or whether you want to marry someone or whether you'll survive Med school. The Latin root of doubt is dubitāre, "to hesitate, waver," and when you doubt something you're wavering: I think I believe you, but maybe I don't. But maybe I do. But maybe not? One thing not to doubt is the silent b. Pronounce: DOWT.

Definitions of doubt
  1. noun
    the state of being unsure of something
    synonyms: doubtfulness, dubiety, dubiousness, incertitude, uncertainty
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    Antonyms:
    certainty
    the state of being certain
    types:
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    arriere pensee, mental reservation, reservation
    an unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly
    distrust, misgiving, mistrust, suspicion
    doubt about someone's honesty
    disbelief, incredulity, mental rejection, scepticism, skepticism
    doubt about the truth of something
    indecision, indecisiveness, irresolution
    doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action
    peradventure
    doubt or uncertainty as to whether something is the case
    suspense
    an uncertain cognitive state
    hesitation, vacillation, wavering
    indecision in speech or action
    type of:
    cognitive state, state of mind
    the state of a person's cognitive processes
  2. noun
    uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something
    synonyms: doubtfulness, dubiousness, question
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    type of:
    precariousness, uncertainness, uncertainty
    being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
  3. verb
    consider unlikely or have doubts about
    “I doubt that she will accept his proposal of marriage”
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    type of:
    disbelieve, discredit
    reject as false; refuse to accept
  4. verb
    lack confidence in or have doubts about
    “I doubt these reports”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    disbelieve, distrust, mistrust, suspect
    regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in
Pronunciation
US

/daʊt/

UK

/daʊt/

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