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

During the questioning of the four men, all four denied knowing how the fight started. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026

Warsh had few, if any, major slip-ups amid intense questioning from Democrats — and supportive commentary from Republicans — in back-to-back days of testimony before the House and Senate on Tuesday and Wednesday. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 15 July 2026

Verb

Johnathan Duncan, 6th District council member Council member Johnathan Duncan, who represents the 6th District, has been the major voice on the City Council questioning the city’s plan to help fund the project. — Dylan Lysen july 29, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026

An estimate that seems unusually high compared to what other consultations suggest is worth questioning. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 July 2026