du ‧ bi ‧ ous /ˈdjuːbiəs $ ˈduː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: dubius , from dubare 'to be unable to decide' ]
1 . probably not honest, true, right etc:
The firm was accused of dubious accounting practices.
Many critics regard this argument as dubious or, at best, misleading.
The assumption that growth in one country benefits the whole world is highly dubious.
2 . [not before noun] not sure whether something is good or true SYN doubtful :
I can see you are dubious; take some time to think about it.
dubious about
Some universities are dubious about accepting students over the age of 30.
‘Are you sure you know what you are doing?’ Andy said, looking dubious.
3 . the dubious honour/distinction/pleasure (of doing something) a dubious honour etc is the opposite of an honour – used about something unpleasant that happens:
The Stephensons had the dubious honor of being the 100th family to lose their home in the fire.
4 . not good or not of good quality:
The room was decorated in dubious taste.
—dubiously adverb
—dubiousness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
■ seeming to be dishonest
▪ suspicious if someone or something seems suspicious, they make you think that something dishonest or illegal is happening:
The police are treating the boy’s death as suspicious.
▪ dubious if something seems dubious, you think it may not be completely true, right, or honest:
He has a rather dubious reputation.
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It all sounds highly dubious to me.
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the country’s dubious record on human rights
▪ shady shady business deals or people seem to be dishonest or connected with secret and illegal activities:
Several senior members of the party had been involved in shady deals.
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a shady character
▪ shifty someone who looks shifty looks as if they are doing or planning something dishonest:
The man on the market stall looked a bit shifty when he gave me my change.
▪ dodgy British English informal probably dishonest and not to be trusted – used especially to say that you do not want to be involved with someone or something:
There’s something a bit dodgy about him.
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dodgy business deals