Dubious&Skeptical

choose   Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:53 pm GMT
There isn't a (considerable) difference between 'dubious' and 'skeptical' is there?
The reason why I'm asking is because my vocab book lists 'dubious' as a synonym for 'doubtful' along with some other terms but poor 'skeptical' was all left out.
McCain   Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:55 pm GMT
Doesn't skeptical refer to people whereas dubious refers to things.

Dubious information. But not "skeptical information'
Another Guest   Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:59 pm GMT
To elaborate, one is skeptical of dubious things, just as one is scared of scary things. "Scared" and "scary" are not synonyms.

Apparently, however, some people do use "dubious" as a synonym of "skeptical".
choose   Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:13 am GMT
Once I heard a news anchor, who I believe was Chris Matthews, express that he was dubious about some issue.
Dan   Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:42 am GMT
More work on this one please.
Anderson   Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:43 am GMT
So did I.
Matt   Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:34 pm GMT
According to Cambridge dictionary, a person can be dubious:

dubious Show phonetics
adjective
1 thought not to be completely true or not able to be trusted:
These claims are dubious and not scientifically proven.
He has been associated with some dubious characters.
Ruth Ellis has the dubious (= bad) distinction of being the last woman to be hanged in Britain.

2 feeling doubt or uncertainty:
I'm dubious about his promises to change his ways.