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
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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?
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of questioning
Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
At the end of group questioning, jurors were called up individually to be questioned by the judge and attorneys.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 4 May 2026
Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 May 2026
Mangione’s lawyers have argued that some of the evidence was obtained through unconstitutional searches and questioning during that encounter, while prosecutors insist it was lawfully collected.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Noun
His argument also cited a host of other possible factors, including the circumstances of his arrest and questioning, his trial’s change of venue to San Jose and the jury selection.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
At the end of group questioning, jurors were called up individually to be questioned by the judge and attorneys.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 4 May 2026
Verb
In certain lines of questioning from the prosecution, the Gheorghius’ personal beliefs seem to be on trial as much as their parenting.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 May 2026
Mangione’s lawyers have argued that some of the evidence was obtained through unconstitutional searches and questioning during that encounter, while prosecutors insist it was lawfully collected.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for questioning
Adjective
-
And what would a skeptical buyer challenge first?—
David Chapman,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Judges newly skeptical of the government’s reliability may examine run-of-the-mill DOJ cases with greater scrutiny, creating more work for a department strapped for resources after thousands of lawyers quit.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
The state police, already examining alleged irregularities in city tax collections during Stewart’s administration, expanded the inquiry to include credit card use and the FBI also has opened an investigation, law enforcement sources said Thursday.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
And Szabo hired prominent Charlotte criminal defense attorney Tin to represent her in an inquiry by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.—
Amber Gaudet,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), there is no residency requirement to file a lawsuit challenging a project’s environmental review.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Lander, who’s got the backing of Mayor Mamdani, is challenging Goldman from the left.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
EBay’s board is now pondering GameStop’s offer.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
The sequence left us pondering our pet cats and, for good measure, our worst selves.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
That said, there’s little doubting Ross’ competence or professionalism.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
19 May 2026
-
Previous statements doubting Venezuela’s sovereignty over the past 25 years have been met with immediate derision from senior government officials, including the president.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The Chargers are going to be more efficient while asking less of their franchise quarterback.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
His phone rang with calls from well-wishers asking about the search, and about his daughter Malak.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Goldman advises hyperscalers, underwrites chip company offerings, and sits at the table with the companies building the very infrastructure Covello was interrogating.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
But those comparisons won’t do The White Lotus any favors, since Beef is more effective than that series’ second and third seasons in interrogating how exclusive locations sharpen class differences.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Further, according to a TSA spokesperson, packing food that looks suspicious on X-ray, like powders or dense snacks, often gets your bag flagged.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
-
Officers searched the grounds and found nothing suspicious.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/questioning. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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