The first step to know the meaning of the term doubtful is to discover its etymological origin. In this case we can establish that it is a word that derives from Latin, exactly from “dubitativus”, which can be translated as “he who wavers between two answers”. Word that is the result of the sum of two lexical components:
-The word “dubius”, which means “doubtful” or “hesitant”.
-The suffix “-tivo”, which serves to indicate “active or passive relationship”.
Dubitative is an adjective that is used with reference to that or the one that denotes a doubt. Doubt is called, on the other hand, the indecision between two dispositions or judgments; to uncertainty about an event; or to hesitation. According to abbreviationfinder, D stands for Doubtful.
Who is doubtful, therefore, doubts about something. For example: “When asked about his continuity in the club, the player was hesitant”, “I ask the president to stop being hesitant and start defending national interests with greater commitment”, “The boy managed to convince a doubtful friend and thus found an accomplice to carry out his misdeed”.
Among the synonyms of doubtful we can highlight indecisive, doubtful, hesitant and even hesitant. On the contrary, if we take into account its antonyms we can highlight both sure and determined.
When making a decision, a subject can be sure or hesitant. Suppose a man saved money to buy a car. When he collects a certain sum, he doesn’t hesitate: he buys a Ford Fiesta 0 kilometer. The buyer was already certain of which car he wanted. On the other hand, another individual who finds himself in a similar situation can’t make up his mind: he could buy a Chevrolet Aveo, but the Peugeot 208, the Renault Clio, the Volkswagen Polo and the Suzuki Swift also seem like good options. This man, therefore, is hesitant.
Being hesitant is often associated with a lack of determination or courage. However, doubting can also be taken as a positive act since it implies a reflection that can contribute to not making wrong decisions and help not to make mistakes.
In the same way, we also have to underline the existence of what are known as dubious statements. When this term is used, it is to refer to those established by a person, recording in them a doubtful message or something that may be possible but is not yet considered absolutely certain.
It is precisely in this type of message that doubt or uncertainty is made clear because adverbs of doubt are used such as, among others, perhaps, probably or even perhaps.
Some clear examples of hesitant statements can be the following: “Manuel is probably still at the University”, “Alejandro may leave Luisa after having caught her lying to him” or “Elena may go to the opening of an art exhibition tomorrow contemporary in a friend’s living room”.