as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
something's fishy about the way he's acting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fishy
Interestingly, the trailer for The Dinosaurs opens with what would have been that little fishy’s worst nightmare.
—
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026
Some people don’t mind the taste, while others call it fishy and unpleasant.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Those three points offer us a guide for evaluating unusual events and the question of whether there might be something fishy afoot.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2026
Some describe cod liver oil as having a fishy, oily, and slightly bitter flavor.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fishy
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026
Some people don’t mind the taste, while others call it fishy and unpleasant.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Those three points offer us a guide for evaluating unusual events and the question of whether there might be something fishy afoot.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2026
Some describe cod liver oil as having a fishy, oily, and slightly bitter flavor.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fishy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fishy
Adjective
-
James, who played after initially being listed as questionable because of arthritis in his left foot, scored 24 points in 27 minutes on eight-for-15 shooting.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
These false or misleading statements are characteristic of politicians with questionable integrity who are willing to say anything for political gain.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, many Hungarians are dubious of Orban’s anti-Ukraine messaging.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
As reviewers have noted, the engine of her Wuthering Heights is not emotion or plot but rather the whiplash created by audiovisual juxtapositions—most of which project the dubious theory that Victorian social rules were equivalent to BDSM.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Others didn’t want to hear explanation, suspicious of a larger culture that considers anti-Blackness the usual weather, on some psychic level, basically tolerable.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
-
This ritual has taken on new meaning now that my parents received word from their doctor on the same day, that Mother has Stage 4 cancer and Father has a suspicious spot on his pancreas.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That disputable appraisal turned a few heads, and people began peppering the bot for further remarks on Musk’s physical prowess.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
20 Nov. 2025
-
That time, a very disputable foul denied him.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This one is a bit more problematic, as the process of power generation is hard.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Feb. 2026
-
However, the Roberts opinion’s refusal to credit the historical novelty of the government’s action may prove problematic in the future.—
Sandeep Gopalan,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Williams is listed as doubtful against the Suns; Shulga is out.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Fellow Finn Roope Hintz is doubtful for Wednesday’s game against Seattle due to illness.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Whether the Sox made enough moves to satisfy fans is debatable.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Even if the tariffs are effective — which is debatable — these advocates miss the point.—
Jan Goldsmith,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fishy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fishy. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
