Doubt'ful, a.
a. 1. Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating; as, we are doubtful of a fact, or of the propriety of a measure.
Sense 2. Admitting of doubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable; not decided; not easy to be defined, classed, or named; as, a doubtful case, hue, claim, title, species, and the like.
With doubtful feet and wavering resolution. Milton.
Is it a great cruelty to expel from our abode the enemy of our peace, or even the doubtful friend [i. e., one as to whose sincerity there may be doubts]? Bancroft.
Sense 3. Characterized by ambiguity; dubious; as, a doubtful expression.
Sense 4. Of uncertain issue.
We have sustained one day in doubtful fight. Milton.
The strife between the two principles had been long, fierce, and doubtful. Macaulay.
Sense 5. Affected by fear; timorous. Spenser.
Synonyms—Wavering; hesitating; undetermined; distrustful; dubious; uncertain; equivocal; obscure; ambiguous; problematical; questionable; precarious; hazardous.