doubt 1 of 2

noun

Definition of doubtnext
as in skepticism
a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something from the beginning I had my doubts about the investment scheme

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

doubt

2 of 2

verb

ˈdau̇t How to pronounce doubt (audio)
as in to question
to have no trust or confidence in I doubt that you can do all that you say

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun doubt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of doubt are dubiety, mistrust, skepticism, suspicion, and uncertainty. While all these words mean "lack of sureness about someone or something," doubt suggests both uncertainty and inability to make a decision.

plagued by doubts as to what to do

When might dubiety be a better fit than doubt?

The synonyms dubiety and doubt are sometimes interchangeable, but dubiety stresses a wavering between conclusions.

felt some dubiety about its practicality

When could mistrust be used to replace doubt?

The meanings of mistrust and doubt largely overlap; however, mistrust implies a genuine doubt based upon suspicion.

had a great mistrust of doctors

When would skepticism be a good substitute for doubt?

The words skepticism and doubt can be used in similar contexts, but skepticism implies unwillingness to believe without conclusive evidence.

an economic forecast greeted with skepticism

When is suspicion a more appropriate choice than doubt?

Although the words suspicion and doubt have much in common, suspicion stresses lack of faith in the truth, reality, fairness, or reliability of something or someone.

regarded the stranger with suspicion

When is it sensible to use uncertainty instead of doubt?

In some situations, the words uncertainty and doubt are roughly equivalent. However, uncertainty may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result.

assumed the role of manager without hesitation or uncertainty

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of doubt
Noun
Without a doubt, the most important element of an individual’s investment success is behavior. —Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025 Any doubt that the Donald Trump tantrum tariffs are the cause of the bloodbath in the stock market, wiping out the wealth and retirement savings of tens of millions of Americans, was settled yesterday morning. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
If taxpayers are given reason to doubt that the government will respect their privacy, the integrity and efficacy of our voluntary tax system will eventually crumble. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Though few doubt it, no one expected the Northern Irishman to have the backing of Phil Mickelson. —Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for doubt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doubt
  1. skepticism
  2. question
  3. suspicion
  4. suspect
  5. uncertainty
Noun
  • At least one House Republican earlier this month expressed skepticism about limiting the power of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions, according to Politico.
    — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Iran, while expressing skepticism, has agreed to participate in the talks, emphasizing a willingness to engage despite Washington's confrontational tone.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of skepticism
Verb
  • Thus, some investors are questioning if high-performing AI models really cost as much as advertised.
    — Tomas Milar, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Legal experts are questioning the authority of the Trump administration to pause the federal funding.
    — Selina Wang, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of question
Noun
  • An aide to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is out on leave and ushered out of the Pentagon for suspicion of leaking.
    — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
  • What To Know According to the DHS summary, officers noted eight other individuals in the vehicle and no visible luggage, prompting suspicions of human trafficking.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of suspicion
Verb
  • These tariffs target goods from more than 180 countries and territories, including China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Vendors impacted by the cancellations suspect the move was triggered by the trade dispute.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Consumers who suspect they were fraudulently enrolled should immediately call their federal or state ACA marketplace, experts say.
    — Julie Appleby, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of suspect
Noun
  • The tariff file has caused a high level of uncertainty both for consumers and businesses.
    — Robert Barone, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • In this context of uncertainty, competition intensifies on entry and middle market watches.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of uncertainty

Browse Nearby Words

doubly
doubt
doubtable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doubt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doubt. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on doubt

Nglish: Translation of doubt for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about doubt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

'Blue Moon,' 'Wolf Moon,' and Other Moons to Look for Throughout the Year

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name that thing flower edition
Name That Flower Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
See All