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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of questioning
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
When Bondi replied by accusing her of hypocrisy over a lack of similar questioning toward former Attorney General Merrick Garland, Jayapal interjected, trying to force an apology.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2026
Jack Dunn, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, over the weekend, Greene hit out at the Justice Department, questioning why her name was included in a letter posted by Attorney General Pam Bondi that listed high-profile figures mentioned in the Epstein files.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Noun
Potential jurors expressed a range of opinions on social media during jury selection questioning, with some appearing concerned about the companies’ impact on society, their children and their older parents.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
When Bondi replied by accusing her of hypocrisy over a lack of similar questioning toward former Attorney General Merrick Garland, Jayapal interjected, trying to force an apology.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday detained a person for questioning in connection with the case.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, over the weekend, Greene hit out at the Justice Department, questioning why her name was included in a letter posted by Attorney General Pam Bondi that listed high-profile figures mentioned in the Epstein files.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for questioning
Adjective
-
Commenters are divided, with some agreeing wholeheartedly and others skeptical.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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Some experts are also skeptical that Carr will ever make good on those threats through greater enforcement of the equal time provision.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The backstory Founded in 1941 by British mystic Edwin John Dingle—better known as Ding Le Mei—the Mentalphysics Spiritual Teaching and Retreat Center was conceived as a sanctuary for spiritual inquiry and mental well-being.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
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Then came the unprecedented announcement last week that Buckingham Palace was ready to cooperate in the event of a police inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Arsenal is challenging for the titl while Tottenham — under new coach Igor Tudor — is in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Kent Smetters, faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, is challenging the narrative that tariffs are a tool for protecting domestic industry.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Seven years ago, Williams was sitting in his bed in his New York studio apartment, eating pizza out of the box and pondering where to take his career.—
Tara Larson,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Authorities spent nearly two weeks combing the southern Arizona landscape, sorting through doorbell footage, pondering what could have happened to the mother of three.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The market seems to be doubting the odds as well.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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The reaction in the comments is all over the place, with some doubting that Barrymore and Bertinelli actually went through with dyeing their hair gray.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Now the place has once again returned to the market, this time asking the same exact price.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
18 Feb. 2026
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To encourage more housing, Pritzker is asking lawmakers to limit local governments’ authority over certain residential zoning areas so that multi-family and other structures can be built.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Moreover, sociology is one of the best empirical fields for interrogating the consequences of different values, for how ideas get built into institutions, for how social networks operate across domains.—
Wendy Nelson Espeland,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Other major Jewish groups that conduct population surveys have in the past typically avoided closely interrogating Jewish opinions about Zionism.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Pennsylvania State Police's fire marshal unit in Greensburg is offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest in connection with a suspicious fire in August.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Clippers investigation Silver said he has been told the Clippers have been cooperative with the external investigation into their possible circumvention of the salary cap through a suspicious endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard with a now-bankrupt company.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/questioning. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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