How to Use doubtful in a Sentence

doubtful

adjective
  • The truth of the statements was doubtful.
  • I tried to reassure them, but they remained doubtful.
  • Their decisions were based on data of doubtful accuracy.
  • He’s listed as doubtful for the game due to rest.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
  • But the war now has him doubtful prices will come down anytime soon.
    — Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
  • When that is doubtful, buy your own ticket and leave them to buy theirs.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • Kerr said the center is doubtful.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Like Flagg, Gafford was deemed doubtful.
    — Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
  • Jimmy sounds doubtful that Carmy will agree to it.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Early in the morning a snowflake could be mixed in but that is doubtful.
    — Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2021
  • Part of you wants to join them, but another part of you may be doubtful.
    — Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 21 Mar. 2021
  • What’s doubtful, however, is if there is any truth to the posts.
    — Leada Gore | [email protected], al, 5 Dec. 2019
  • First though, the band that everybody would start with but, to me, is doubtful.
    — Steve Baltin, Forbes, 1 June 2021
  • Other experts are doubtful and have warned that cheap, rapid tests will not work as promised.
    — Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2020
  • Walker was doubtful to play and was scratched about two hours before the game with a neck strain.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 26 Nov. 2019
  • He was not listed as questionable, doubtful or out for the game.
    — Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
  • But one look at the forthcoming movie’s cast should placate even the most doubtful mind.
    — Estelle Tang, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2019
  • Kerr said Iguodala is doubtful to play on this trip, but his progress is promising.
    — C.j. Holmes, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2022
  • Bashaw was sure that guests would want to do farm labor, even if the number crunchers were doubtful.
    — Adam Erace, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2023
  • McGann seemed doubtful, but some other men whooped and hollered, and that felt great.
    — Mike O’Brien, The New Yorker, 9 Nov. 2023
  • Whether these demands alone will solve Nepal’s problems is doubtful.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Many were doubtful that private donors would foot the bill, as the White House has said.
    — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Last year’s first-round pick is doubtful against the 49ers because of a knee injury.
    — Joseph Person, charlotteobserver, 8 Sep. 2017
  • Killing consumer rights There’s reason to be doubtful.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
  • But other experts are doubtful that the blue-winged is a new addition to the flock.
    — National Geographic, 27 June 2017
  • But Wayne noted the chances any tax bill will pass in the Senate are doubtful.
    — Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal, 1 Mar. 2018
  • He is listed as doubtful for Thursday’s game against the Spurs.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024
  • But even if that effort succeeds, its prospects are doubtful in the Senate.
    — NBC News, 13 June 2018
  • The Big Ten would have to make concessions, and that’s doubtful.
    — Ndaschel, oregonlive, 25 Aug. 2023
  • Williams is listed as doubtful against the Suns; Shulga is out.
    — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'doubtful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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