question 1 of 2

1
as in problem
an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge because I have missed so many classes, I had a hard time answering every question on today's surprise quiz

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in request
an act or instance of asking for information after reading the brief statement to the reporters, the lawyer ended the press conference by saying, "No more questions, please" the dozens of questions researched by the reference librarians

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

question

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to challenge
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
3
as in to doubt
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 to ask
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 to examine
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb question contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of question are ask, inquire, interrogate, and query. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

When can ask be used instead of question?

Although the words ask and question have much in common, ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

In what contexts can inquire take the place of question?

While in some cases nearly identical to question, inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions.

began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

When could interrogate be used to replace question?

The meanings of interrogate and question largely overlap; however, interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

When would query be a good substitute for question?

In some situations, the words query and question are roughly equivalent. However, query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

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 question
Noun
Observer reporters Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow, as well as Observer columnist Scott Fowler, will provide their answers to that question below. Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025 The controllers’ union and Airlines for America (A4A), the commercial airlines’ trade association, declined to directly address the question of privatization when asked on Friday. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
In early April, Mike Waltz, then the national-security adviser, walked into the Oval Office to find Loomer sitting across from the President, in the midst of a presentation that questioned the allegiances of a number of members of his National Security Council. Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025 Munoz also questioned why corporations have more rights than rivers, mountains or oceans. Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for question
Recent Examples of Synonyms for question
Noun
  • Winning the lottery is supposed to fix all of your problems, but there are some debts that are too great for the big ticket to cover.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The delicate appearance may surprise you since these blooms resist deer, have few pest and disease problems, and can grow in clay soil.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Stueber’s widow, Catherine, and lawyers on both sides did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The first lady did not immediately return a request for comment.
    Graph Massara, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • No one in an NFL building is going to raise an objection when team brass decides to honor team ownership.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • This was an objection that was raised in the ancient world, and that persisted through the time of Galileo.
    Big Think, Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Lasky also integrates tangential but no-less-compelling topics, like the show-stopping style of Iris Apfel and her influence on Lasky’s mother, and Lasky’s evergreen obsession with The Shining.
    Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The rise of autocratic Russia and China has challenged this global order.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Kimberly-Clark has been attempting to challenge the dominance of consumer goliath Procter & Gamble, whose business spans all drugstore aisles, including cold and digestion medicines.
    NPR, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This phenomenon has long been debated in theory, but now the impact can be observed directly across a large population of stars.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
  • At a conference in 1969, when other physicists were debating the very existence of gravitational waves, Weber presented evidence supporting their direct detection.
    Big Think, Big Think, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This greater emphasis on training and skills is a big change of tone — although manufacturers, in particular, doubt the training can be delivered following years of course closures at further education colleges.
    Ian King, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
  • For the first time all year, everyone actually doubted the powerhouse Dodgers.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • There was no picture of Krasznahorkai anywhere and somebody came up to him and asked why?
    Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Hall, a first-term Republican from Rudy, has asked a judge to seal filings in the case.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Question.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/question. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on question

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!