Certainty and Doubt: English Vocabulary List

a feeling of disbelief or uncertainty about something

"Doubt can be useful."

"She had doubt about the answer until she checked the notes."

having a high possibility of happening or being true based on available evidence or circumstances

"His success is probable."

"It is probable that the company will announce layoffs next month given their poor financial performance this quarter."

to pause before saying or doing something because of uncertainty or nervousness

"Do not hesitate to ask questions."

"Do not hesitate to call me if you need any help with the project because I am here to support you."

to make sure that something will happen

"Seat belts ensure passenger safety always."

"Please check the door twice to ensure that it is locked before you leave the house for your vacation."

according to opinions or guesses instead of facts or evidence

"The investment is speculative."

"The stock market is highly speculative and investors can lose all of their money if they make bad decisions without careful research."

clearly true and therefore impossible to deny or question

"Her talent is undeniable."

"The evidence against the suspect was undeniable and the jury took only an hour to return a guilty verdict in the high profile murder trial."

subject to argument or disagreement

"That point is debatable."

"Whether the benefits of the new policy outweigh the costs is debatable and economists have different opinions based on their analysis of the available data."

unable to be prevented

"Change is inevitable."

"Change is inevitable and we must learn to adapt to new situations instead of resisting them because fighting the inevitable only causes more stress and unhappiness."

not firmly established or decided, with the possibility of changes in the future

"We made a tentative plan."

"The two companies reached a tentative agreement after weeks of negotiation but the final contract still needs to be approved by the board of directors."

having a strong belief in something

"I am convinced he is right."

"I am convinced that he is telling the truth because his story has remained consistent for months."

not producing a clear result or decision

"The evidence is inconclusive."

"The results of the experiment were inconclusive so the scientists had to repeat the study with a larger sample size to obtain more reliable and valid data."

used to say that the something is believed to be true based on available information or evidence

"Presumably he will arrive later today."

"Presumably he will arrive later today because his flight was delayed due to bad weather in Chicago."

an idea or belief that one thinks is true without having a proof

"That is a false assumption."

"She made a wrong assumption about his intentions and later regretted it deeply."

in a way that is certain and beyond any doubt

"The room was decidedly too small."

"The room was decidedly too small for fifty people so we had to find a larger venue for the conference."

used to suggest that something is assumed to be true, often with a hint of doubt

"Supposedly he is the best doctor."

"Supposedly he is the best doctor in the city but I have heard some negative reviews from his former patients."

improbable or unlikely to happen or be the case

"It is doubtful."

"It is doubtful that he will show up to the meeting because he has been sick all week."

(of a person) unsure or hesitant about the credibility or goodness of something

"His claim is dubious."

"The dubious claim that drinking this juice cures cancer has been debunked by medical experts who warn consumers not to believe false advertising."

the state of being sure about something, usually when there is proof

"There is no certainty in life."

"He spoke with absolute certainty about the outcome but later events proved that his confident prediction was completely wrong."

a state of being confused and not having a clear understanding of an action, behavior, etc.

"The announcement caused confusion among the passengers."

"The instructions were written so poorly that they caused nothing but confusion among the new employees who had no idea what they were supposed to do."

a state of hopeful expectation that things will turn out favorably

"I have confidence."

"She expressed great confidence in her team's ability to overcome the challenges ahead."

the likelihood or chance of an event occurring or being true

"What is the probability?"

"The probability of rain tomorrow is quite high, so we should postpone our outdoor picnic."

to think that something is probably true, especially something bad, without having proof

"I suspect he is lying."

"The detective began to suspect that the witness was withholding crucial information about the incident."

to make someone feel confident or certain about someone or something

"She assures him of her support."

"The doctor tried to assure the worried patient that the surgery was completely safe and would not cause any permanent damage."

a feeling of doubt, uncertainty, or reluctance before acting

"There was hesitation."

"A moment of hesitation before signing the contract made the lawyers reconsider the terms."

a belief or opinion that is very strong

"She has strong conviction."

"His strong conviction about justice motivated him to fight for the oppressed."

to make sure that something will occur

"The store guarantees customer satisfaction fully."

"The store cannot guarantee that the product will be in stock next week because they are selling very quickly."

to think or believe that it is possible for something to happen or for someone to do something

"I expect you to arrive on time."

"You should expect some delays due to the heavy snow that fell overnight on the highways."

according to facts instead of opinions

"We need concrete evidence."

"We need concrete evidence to prove that he committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt."

likely to happen or sure to experience something

"He is bound to fail."

"With his current attitude, he is bound to face significant challenges in his career."

not firmly established or decided, with the possibility of changes in the future

"We made tentative plans."

"We made tentative plans to meet on Friday but we will confirm the time later."

prepared or likely prepared for something

"The team is set."

"The time is set for seven o'clock so please do not be late for the dinner reservation."

to think that something is true without having proof or evidence

"Assume he is wrong."

"Do not assume that everyone shares your opinions because people come from different backgrounds and have various perspectives."

improbable or unlikely to happen or be the case

"It is doubtful."

"It is doubtful that he will show up because he has never been reliable in the past."

causing doubt or suspicion

"This is dubious."

"The politician's dubious claims about his achievements raised serious questions among the electorate."