Synonyms of questioning

questioning 1 of 3

adjective

as in skeptical

inclined to doubt or question claims

a naturally questioning person, she demands rock-solid proof before she believes anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skeptical
• suspicious
• cautious
• doubting
• careful
• incredulous
• disbelieving
• wary
• unbelieving
• show-me
• distrustful
• suspecting
• mistrustful
• paranoid
• cynical
• negativistic
• curious
• unsure
• puzzled
• quizzical
• watchful
• critical
• experienced
• inquisitive
• leery
• guarded
• uncertain
• knowing
• inquiring
• unconvinced
• hesitant
• worldly
• sophisticated
• undetermined
• undecided
• nosy
• gun-shy
• worldly-wise
• unsettled
• snoopy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• trusting
• unquestioning
• uncritical
• certain
• credulous
• naive
• positive
• sure
• gullible
• trustful
• green
• confident
• simple
• innocent
• unknowing
• unsophisticated
• ingenuous
• simpleminded
• wide-eyed
• unworldly
• inexperienced
• childlike
• raw
• idealistic
• callow
• impractical
• careless
• heedless
• deceived
• unsuspecting
• unsuspicious
• unwary
• duped
• tricked
• beguiled
• gulled

questioning

2 of 3

noun

as in inquiry

Related Words

• inquiry
• interrogation
• prying
• concern
• wonderment
• attentiveness
• interest
• interference
• inquisitiveness
• regard
• intrusiveness
• curiosity
• officiousness
• obtrusiveness
• meddlesomeness
• curiousness
• eavesdropping
• nosiness
• rubbernecking

Dissimilar Words

• disregard
• indifference
• incuriosity
• incuriousness
• unconcern
• apathy
• disinterestedness

questioning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of question

1

as in challenging

to demand proof of the truth or rightness of

the teenager openly questioned the authority of the town's police force to impose a curfew on residents under the age of 18

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenging
• disputing
• doubting
• contesting
• protesting
• impeaching
• querying
• calling in question
• opposing
• fighting
• oppugning
• resisting
• mistrusting
• kicking (about)
• combating
• objecting (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• believing
• accepting
• embracing
• supporting
• defending
• swallowing
• promoting
• backing
• advocating
• enduring
• tolerating
• abiding
• championing
• stomaching

2

as in pondering

to give serious and careful thought to

question your motives before you file the lawsuit: do you really care about the trees, or are you just trying to harass the neighbors?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pondering
• debating
• considering
• contemplating
• studying
• entertaining
• weighing
• exploring
• reviewing
• eyeing
• analyzing
• deliberating
• ruminating
• cogitating
• thinking (about or over)
• looking at
• meditating
• revolving
• mulling (over)
• wrestling (with)
• chewing on
• turning
• reasoning
• poring (over)
• perpending
• chewing over
• kicking around
• digesting
• reflecting (on or upon)
• believing
• reminiscing
• beating one's brains out (about)
• cudgeling one's brains (about)
• concluding
• musing (upon)
• opining
• second-guessing
• speculating (about)
• absorbing
• dwelling (on or upon)
• fixating (on or upon)
• brooding (about or over)
• obsessing (about or over)
• conceiving
• fretting (about or over)
• assimilating
• drinking (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• disregarding
• overlooking
• rejecting
• dismissing
• slighting
• pooh-poohing

3

as in doubting

to have no trust or confidence in

it was apparent that voters were questioning the President's ability to manage the economy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• doubting
• suspecting
• distrusting
• mistrusting
• misdoubting
• discounting
• disbelieving
• discrediting
• negating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• trusting
• depending (on or upon)
• relying (on or upon)
• counting (on or upon)
• banking (on or upon)

4

as in asking

to put a question or questions to

the press should be allowed to question public officials about any matter of general interest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• asking
• interrogating
• quizzing
• inquiring (of)
• querying
• grilling
• examining
• catechizing
• bombarding
• cross-questioning
• cross-examining
• surveying
• pumping
• besieging
• polling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• responding
• answering
• replying
• observing
• commenting
• avoiding
• remarking
• retorting
• rejoining
• ducking

5

as in interrogating

to put a series of questions to

the police questioned the suspect before deciding that there was insufficient evidence to hold him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interrogating
• examining
• quizzing
• querying
• grilling
• pumping
• catechizing
• harassing
• debriefing
• picking the brains of
• sweating
• cross-examining
• giving the third degree to
• hounding
• cross-questioning
• annoying
• pestering
• canvassing
• polling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of questioning

Noun

In the American West, where playing dress-up in reenactments and photo booths and even city streets is already so commonplace, this line of questioning is insidiously limited. — Téa Obreht, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

When the panel’s questioning shifted to Delaware officials, the judges appeared concerned over the broad scope of the donor disclosure required under the law. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026

Verb

Jennifer Sprague and Shanan Buckingham are handling questioning for the prosecution in the trial while Kevin Reddington is Clancy's defense attorney. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

After years of health struggles and uncertainty over her future as a performer, Dion said she is focused on embracing her life rather than questioning it. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026