questionable

ques·tion·able

adjective \ˈkwes-chə-nə-bəl, ˈkwesh-, in rapid speech ˈkwesh-nə-\

Definition of QUESTIONABLE

1

obsolete : inviting inquiry

2

obsolete : liable to judicial inquiry or action

3

: affording reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged : not certain or exact : problematic <milk of questionable purity> <a questionable decision>

4

: attended by well-grounded suspicions of being immoral, crude, false, or unsound : dubious <questionable motives>

— ques·tion·able·ness noun

— ques·tion·ably \-blē\ adverb

Examples of QUESTIONABLE

1. The truth of the statements was highly questionable.
2. The water available in the village is of questionable quality.
3. a man of questionable character
4. They acquired the money through questionable means.
5. The company is facing a questionable future.

First Known Use of QUESTIONABLE

1580

Related to QUESTIONABLE

Synonyms

debatable, disputable, dodgy [chiefly British], doubtable, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, fishy, problematic (also problematical), queer, doubtful, shady, shaky, suspect, suspicious

Antonyms

certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unproblematic, unquestionable

Related Words

alleged, so-called, supposed; moot; ambiguous, open, unclear; uncertain, undecided, undetermined; far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, unlikely, weak

Near Antonyms

decisive, definitive; clear, obvious, open-and-shut, positive

See Synonym Discussion at doubtful