ENGLISH
REFERENCE

doubting

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdaʊtɪŋ// UK //dˈaʊtɪŋ// doubt·ing

adj. feeling unsure if something is true or if someone is telling the truth. You use this when you have a lack of belief in something.

adj. characterised by a lack of conviction or a state of uncertainty regarding the truth or reliability of something. Often used predicatively after linking verbs or attributively to describe a person's expression.


SIMPLE

She gave him a doubting look when he explained his excuse.

CONTEXTUAL

Even after seeing the evidence, several doubting members of the committee refused to sign the final report.

COMPLEX

The scientist remained doubting of the new data until the experiment could be replicated by an independent laboratory under stricter controls.

Synonyms
Usage

Often appears in the phrase 'doubting Thomas' to describe a skeptical person. When used as a participial adjective, it frequently modifies nouns like 'look', 'smile', or 'voice'.

Idioms1 entry

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