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question

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of question

1 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 of question

interrogative, problem
Words Related to question

brainteaser, conundrum, poser, puzzle, quiz, riddle, stickler, stumper, toughie (also toughy)
Near Antonyms of question

answer, response, solution
2 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 of question

call, inquiry, query, request
Words Related to question

interrogatory

poll, questionnaire, survey

inquisition, interrogating, interrogation, questioning

examination, exploration, inquest, investigation, probe, probing, research, study
Near Antonyms of question

answer, reply, response
3 a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
  • that these measurements are accurate is beyond question
Synonyms of question

challenge, complaint, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, fuss, kick, objection, protest, remonstrance, stink
Words Related to question

compunction, doubt, misgiving, qualm, scruple

misunderstanding

cavil, niggle [chiefly British], quibble

argument, conflict, debate, dispute, dissent, hassle, quarrel, squabble, static

censure, criticism

defiance, disobedience, rebellion

distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation [archaic], incertitude, indetermination, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty

qualmishness, unease, uneasiness

reluctance, unwillingness
Near Antonyms of question

willingness

approval, sanction

acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent

compliance, obedience
4 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)
  • it's a question of personal responsibility
Synonyms of question

content, matter, motif, motive, subject, theme, topic
Words Related to question

subject matter

talking point

count, idea, point, purpose

consideration, issue, problem

body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum

basis

bottom, essential, essentiality

affair, argument, debate
Near Antonyms of question

aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

question

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of question

1 to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
  • the teenager openly questioned the authority of the townʼs police force to impose a curfew on residents under the age of 18
Synonyms of question

challenge, contest, dispute, impeach, oppugn, query
Words Related to question

doubt, mistrust

kick (about), object (to), protest

combat, fight, oppose, resist
Phrases Synonymous with question

call in question (or into)
Near Antonyms of question

back, defend, support

advocate, champion, promote

abide, endure, stomach, tolerate
Antonyms of question

accept, believe, embrace, swallow
2 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 of question

chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, ponder, pore (over), revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with)
Words Related to question

muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce

analyze, explore, review

conclude, reason

second-guess, speculate (about)

brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over)

believe, conceive, opine

absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)
Phrases Synonymous with question

beat one's brains out (about), chew on, cudgel oneʼs brains (about), look at
Near Antonyms of question

disregard, ignore, overlook, slight

dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject
3 to have no trust or confidence in
  • it was apparent that voters were questioning the Presidentʼs ability to manage the economy
Synonyms of question

distrust, doubt, misdoubt, mistrust, suspect
Words Related to question

disbelieve, discount, discredit, negate
Near Antonyms of question

bank (on or upon), count (on or upon), depend (on or upon), rely (on or upon)
Antonyms of question

trust
4 to put a question or questions to
  • the press should be allowed to question public officials about any matter of general interest
Synonyms of question

ask, catechize, grill, inquire (of), interrogate, query, quiz
Words Related to question

besiege, bombard, cross-examine, cross-question, examine, pump

poll, survey
Near Antonyms of question

rejoin, retort

comment, observe, remark

avoid, duck
Antonyms of question

answer, reply, respond
5 to put a series of questions to
  • the police questioned the suspect before deciding that there was insufficient evidence to hold him
Synonyms of question

catechize, examine, grill, interrogate, pump, query, quiz, sweat [slang]
Words Related to question

debrief

cross-examine, cross-question

annoy, harass, hound, pester

canvass (also canvas), poll
Phrases Synonymous with question

give the third degree to, pick the brains of

Synonym Discussion of question

ask, question, interrogate, query, inquire mean to address a person in order to gain information. ask implies no more than the putting of a question.
    • ask for directions
question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.
    • questioned them about every detail of the trip
interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.
    • the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day
query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.
    • queried a librarian about the book
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

Learn More about question

  1. Dictionary: Definition of question Spanish Central: Translation of question Nglish: Translation of question for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of question for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about question

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