4 uses
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Definition
doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
- "Those sailors we saw, Queequeg, where can they have gone to?" said I, looking dubiously at the sleeper.Chapters 19-21 — The Prophet; All Astir; Going Aboard (81% in)
- It was a very dubious-looking, nay, a very dark and dismal night, bitingly cold and cheerless.Chapters 1-3 — Loomings; The Carpet-Bag; The Spouter-Inn (27% in)
- Whether to admit Hercules among us or not, concerning this I long remained dubious: for though according to the Greek mythologies, that antique Crockett and Kit Carson—that brawny doer of rejoicing good deeds, was swallowed down and thrown up by a whale; still, whether that strictly makes a whaleman of him, that might be mooted.Chapters 82-84 — The Honour and Glory of Whaling; Jonah Historically Regarded; Pitchpoling (27% in)
- Such an added, gliding strangeness began to invest the thin Fedallah now; such ceaseless shudderings shook him; that the men looked dubious at him; half uncertain, as it seemed, whether indeed he were a mortal substance, or else a tremulous shadow cast upon the deck by some unseen being's body.Chapters 130-132 — The Hat; The Pequod meets the Delight; The Symphony (9% in)
There are no more uses of "dubious" in Moby Dick.
Typical Usage
(best examples)