Synonyms of questioning

questioning 1 of 3

adjective

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

• skeptical
• suspicious
• cautious
• doubting
• careful
• incredulous
• disbelieving
• wary
• unbelieving
• show-me
• distrustful
• suspecting
• mistrustful
• paranoid
• cynical
• negativistic
• curious
• unsure
• puzzled
• quizzical
• watchful
• critical
• experienced
• inquisitive
• leery
• guarded
• uncertain
• knowing
• inquiring
• unconvinced
• hesitant
• worldly
• sophisticated
• undetermined
• undecided
• nosy
• gun-shy
• worldly-wise
• unsettled
• snoopy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• trusting
• unquestioning
• uncritical
• certain
• credulous
• naive
• positive
• sure
• gullible
• trustful
• green
• confident
• simple
• innocent
• unknowing
• unsophisticated
• ingenuous
• simpleminded
• wide-eyed
• unworldly
• inexperienced
• childlike
• raw
• idealistic
• callow
• impractical
• careless
• heedless
• deceived
• unsuspecting
• unsuspicious
• unwary
• duped
• tricked
• beguiled
• gulled

questioning

2 of 3

noun

as in inquiry

Related Words

• inquiry
• interrogation
• prying
• concern
• wonderment
• attentiveness
• interest
• interference
• inquisitiveness
• regard
• intrusiveness
• curiosity
• officiousness
• obtrusiveness
• meddlesomeness
• curiousness
• eavesdropping
• nosiness
• rubbernecking

Dissimilar Words

• disregard
• indifference
• incuriosity
• incuriousness
• unconcern
• apathy
• disinterestedness

questioning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of question

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

• challenging
• disputing
• doubting
• contesting
• protesting
• impeaching
• querying
• calling in question
• opposing
• fighting
• oppugning
• resisting
• mistrusting
• kicking (about)
• combating
• objecting (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• believing
• accepting
• embracing
• supporting
• defending
• swallowing
• promoting
• backing
• advocating
• enduring
• tolerating
• abiding
• championing
• stomaching

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

• pondering
• debating
• considering
• contemplating
• studying
• entertaining
• weighing
• exploring
• reviewing
• eyeing
• analyzing
• deliberating
• ruminating
• cogitating
• thinking (about or over)
• looking at
• meditating
• revolving
• mulling (over)
• wrestling (with)
• chewing on
• turning
• reasoning
• poring (over)
• perpending
• chewing over
• kicking around
• digesting
• reflecting (on or upon)
• believing
• reminiscing
• beating one's brains out (about)
• cudgeling one's brains (about)
• concluding
• musing (upon)
• opining
• second-guessing
• speculating (about)
• absorbing
• dwelling (on or upon)
• fixating (on or upon)
• brooding (about or over)
• obsessing (about or over)
• conceiving
• fretting (about or over)
• assimilating
• drinking (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• disregarding
• overlooking
• rejecting
• dismissing
• slighting
• pooh-poohing

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

• doubting
• suspecting
• distrusting
• mistrusting
• misdoubting
• discounting
• disbelieving
• discrediting
• negating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• trusting
• depending (on or upon)
• relying (on or upon)
• counting (on or upon)
• banking (on or upon)

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

• asking
• interrogating
• quizzing
• inquiring (of)
• querying
• grilling
• examining
• catechizing
• bombarding
• cross-questioning
• cross-examining
• surveying
• pumping
• besieging
• polling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• responding
• answering
• replying
• observing
• commenting
• avoiding
• remarking
• retorting
• rejoining
• ducking

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

• interrogating
• examining
• quizzing
• querying
• grilling
• pumping
• catechizing
• harassing
• debriefing
• picking the brains of
• sweating
• cross-examining
• giving the third degree to
• hounding
• cross-questioning
• annoying
• pestering
• canvassing
• polling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of questioning

Noun

There was a slight kerfuffle and Brand’s wife was escorted out around halfway through the defense’s questioning. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026

As of Tuesday, the InfoBip deposition was scheduled for Thursday, with questioning of a TTSU representative scheduled for Friday. — Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Verb

While at the establishment, the report said Gonzalez engaged an assistant waiter in an argument, questioning the worker about his sexuality. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

The meltdown has fans, media and even franchise legends questioning head coach Brian Schottenheimer, defensive coordinator Christian Parker and the team’s direction. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026