question 1 of 2

noun

ˈkwes-chən How to pronounce question (audio)
Definition of questionnext
1
as in problem
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in request
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent that these measurements are accurate is beyond question

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in topic
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) it's a question of personal responsibility

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

question

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to challenge
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to debate
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 to doubt
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 to ask
to put a question or questions to the press should be allowed to question public officials about any matter of general interest

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to examine
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb question contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of question are ask, inquire, interrogate, and query. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

When can ask be used instead of question?

Although the words ask and question have much in common, ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

In what contexts can inquire take the place of question?

While in some cases nearly identical to question, 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

When could interrogate be used to replace question?

The meanings of interrogate and question largely overlap; however, interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

When would query be a good substitute for question?

In some situations, the words query and question are roughly equivalent. However, query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of question
Noun
That’s partly because A.I. is a fractious and changing field, in which opinions differ; partly because so much of the latest A.I. research is proprietary and unpublished; and partly because there can be no firm answers to fundamentally speculative questions—only probabilities. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 27 May 2025 Recently, however, the U.S. president has thrown the future of American military aid to Ukraine into question. —Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Atlantic, 27 May 2025
Verb
Brandon Fiscus and Justin Dance questioned Chambers’ failure to deescalate the situation and decision to kneel on Allen’s neck — a control tactic Dance said is not taught in Meridian. Chambers transferred to the Boise Police Department last September but left in January. —Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 27 May 2025 Gonzalez was arrested on Tuesday while her unidentified getaway driver is still wanted for questioning. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for question
Recent Examples of Synonyms for question
  1. problem
  2. request
  3. objection
  4. topic
  5. challenge
  6. debate
  7. doubt
  8. ask
Noun
  • Read more: Fishing Communities in the Philippines Are Fighting for their Future as Waters Rise The bigger problem is that human society—policymakers, companies, and financial institutions—simply hasn’t figured out how to value all that oceans do for us.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 5 June 2025
  • The problem, blamed on outdated wastewater infrastructure, has persisted for decades but has spiraled in recent years as Tijuana's population skyrocketed.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of problem
Noun
  • The request for correction process is intended to correct errors, not to bias assessments to be more favorable to industry and to delay protective actions.
    — H. Christopher Frey, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
  • The band engaged in a monthslong dispute with Simon, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Rolling Stone.
    — Tyler Hicks, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
Definition of request
Noun
  • Several Republicans have already expressed objections to the legislation as approved by the House.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 June 2025
  • Product joined to hear objections directly from the field.
    — Aaron Biggs, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of objection
Noun
  • Angela is also opening up about sensitive topics — like being millions of dollars in debt over these houses??
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 2 June 2025
  • There are many ways to celebrate spring, but few contemporary artists have devoted more attention to the topic than David Hockney.
    — Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Definition of topic
Verb
  • All of those changes are being challenged in court.
    — Geoff Mulvihill, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
  • In creative domains, AI is generating art, music, and literature that challenges our assumptions about human uniqueness while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of aesthetic experience.
    — Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Definition of challenge
Verb
  • While the cause and eventual outcome can be debated, the immediate impact was felt with shares of Tesla falling 14% on Thursday.
    — JJ Kinahan, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The Senate passed the bill on a vote of 19 to 13, which happened more than 16 hours after the chamber was scheduled to debate it.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 June 2025
Definition of debate
Verb
  • Chloe is successful, tightly wound and over-calculating to the extent that doubting her sincerity is unavoidable.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
  • However, experts have doubted its completion in the short timeline, suggesting the Golden Dome’s development would need significant extensions and bipartisan support.
    — Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 27 May 2025
Definition of doubt
Verb
  • Think about the vast difference between typing in keywords to get hyperlinks, and simply asking an intelligent entity a question.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • The response from her daughter was electric, and people began to comment on the fun design and ask about her interest in ballet.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 May 2025
Definition of ask

Phrases Containing question

Browse Nearby Words

questing
question
questionable
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Cite this Entry

“Question.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/question. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on question

Nglish: Translation of question for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about question

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