dudosas

Dudosas is the feminine plural form of the Portuguese adjective dudoso. It is used to describe statements, claims, sources, or objects that are considered questionable, unreliable, or lacking clear credibility. The corresponding forms are dudoso (masculine singular), dudosa (feminine singular), and dudosos (masculine plural).

Etymology and usage context: Dudoso derives from a root related to doubt, with parallels to the Latin dubius. In both European and Brazilian Portuguese, dudoso is common in formal and informal writing to indicate uncertainties about truth, origin, or reliability. The term dudosas is most often used with feminine nouns, such as fontes dudosas (dubious sources), afirmações dudosas (dubious claims), provas dudosas (dubious evidence), or promessas dudosas (dubious promises).

Nuances and connotations: Utilizing dudosas suggests a judgment about reliability that may be subjective and context-dependent. In journalism, science, and law, writers may prefer more precise language or explicit criteria for evaluating credibility, while in everyday language dudosas can convey a cautious or skeptical stance toward information or propositions.

Related terms and synonyms: Dudoso has close equivalents such as duvidoso, duvidosas (in some dialects), suspeito, inconclusivo, or duvidal. Differences among these terms reflect varying degrees of certainty and formality. Dudosas specifically marks feminine plural subjects and aligns with standard gender agreement in Portuguese adjectives.

See also: dudoso, dúbio, dubitabilidade.