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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in inquiry
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of questioning
R.j. Rico, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
While some conservative justices appeared more open to revisiting the scope of the 14th Amendment, the questioning overall suggested the court may be reluctant to embrace the sweeping reinterpretation sought by the administration.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
The decision was good news for Krista Erbe, a member of the 2871 Community Coalition who has been at the forefront of residents questioning the development.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Noun
Woods, who was hiccupping during questioning, continuously moved his head during one of the sobriety tests, and deputies had to tell him several times to keep his head straight, according to an arrest report.
—R.j. Rico, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
While some conservative justices appeared more open to revisiting the scope of the 14th Amendment, the questioning overall suggested the court may be reluctant to embrace the sweeping reinterpretation sought by the administration.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
At the time of his death, he was also being sought for questioning as a witness in a homicide, sources said.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
The decision was good news for Krista Erbe, a member of the 2871 Community Coalition who has been at the forefront of residents questioning the development.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for questioning
Adjective
-
Still, some residents remain skeptical.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Some fiscal experts were skeptical of both measures.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Either Empire or Lowe’s will handle future customer service inquiries and warranty claims.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The realms of philosophy and religion have sometimes intersected in conducting such inquiries as these.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The president stayed for about 80 minutes, leaving after his solicitor general, John Sauer, wrapped his oral argument and an attorney for the ACLU, challenging the executive order, started hers.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
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That same day, a square between the sun and Pluto adds a layer of intensity and transformation, challenging outdated belief systems and social environments.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ganesh’s character has also spent a good amount of time this season pondering the next steps in her medical career after her plans to move back to her home state of New Jersey were disrupted.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Manager Dave Roberts is pondering whether to take measures to limit opportunities for the sequence, as the Dodgers manage Ohtani’s two-way ability over the course of a full season for the first time.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s despite a majority of Americans doubting his handling of trade policy, according to new Pew Research Center data.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
There’s people out here really doubting us.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When caregivers there left a suicidal resident hanging by the neck from his room’s sprinkler system without giving the man immediate aid, Florida’s healthcare watchdog agency took the uncommon action of asking a judge to shut down Villa Rosa IV.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Trump is asking the justices to uphold his Day 1 executive order eliminating birthright citizenship under a novel interpretation of the 14th Amendment and requiring parents to prove their own legal status before citizenship is granted to their children.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The board will spend the next few months interrogating submissions from all three cities and speaking to their champions in more detail.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Grossman succeeds in interrogating the very gaze his film is built upon, yet never fully escapes it, leaving the documentary caught between critique and complicity.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the coroner did not screen Harold's blood for poisons at the time because his death was not suspicious.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Installing strong antivirus software on your devices can also help block malicious links, detect suspicious downloads and warn you about dangerous websites.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/questioning. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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