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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Larry Neumeister, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Carlos repeated several times during Hawley’s questioning that Google trains its models on videos uploaded to YouTube.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Dec. 2024
Many families are prioritizing financial stability over the prestige of a brand-name college, questioning whether the investment in a traditional college education is always the right choice.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Noun
After the defense questioning ended, Cudi left the courthouse, walking quickly to a waiting SUV.
—Larry Neumeister, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Carlos repeated several times during Hawley’s questioning that Google trains its models on videos uploaded to YouTube.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
Verb
Police later arrested the man and are questioning him.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Dec. 2024
Many families are prioritizing financial stability over the prestige of a brand-name college, questioning whether the investment in a traditional college education is always the right choice.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for questioning
Adjective
-
These regions were often skeptical of centralized power, and reformers pushed for tools like the initiative and referendum to give citizens a way to bypass political machines and corporate influence.—
Jeremy Kohler,
ProPublica,
30 May 2025
-
It will be decided on by a conservative-majority Supreme Court that has been skeptical of considerations of race in public life.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
We’re taught to prioritize action over inquiry, compliance over curiosity.—
Hunter McMahon,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
Newsweek reached out to Marriott International and the woman's attorney for comment via email outside of regular office hours on Tuesday, as well as to Clearview Building Services, LLC, via an online inquiry form.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, which went on an historic two-and-a-half week strike in March after negotiations for a new contract broke down, had filed a petition with the Sixth District Court of Appeal on April 1, challenging the ruling of the Santa Clara County Superior Court.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Today big tech is aggressively challenging long-standing legal protections in copyright law, in intellectual property, fair data practices and data privacy protections.—
Hessie Jones,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
While producers pondering where to set their next movie will surely be tempted, this does come at a time when those in Hollywood especially are desperate to bring production back to home shores.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Murphy, who has launched a group called the American EV Jobs Alliance to try to build bipartisan support for electric vehicles, has spent years pondering why more Republicans won't buy them.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has silenced critics doubting his Ferrari move after securing the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race victory.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Soon, he was flooded with messages from a group text thread of his best friends, sharing social media posts doubting McCollum.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The plaintiffs are asking the court to block the administration’s order, which puts Haitians at risk of being returned to a country overrun by deadly gangs.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The Purple One was not pleased when his band started asking questions.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The agencies urged the public to remain vigilant and report any threats of violence or suspicious activity to law enforcement.—
Jeremy Harlan,
CNN Money,
6 June 2025
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This allows radiologists to see blood flow to areas of the breast—highlighting suspicious areas that might otherwise be hidden by dense tissue.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Last year, the department paid out nearly $1 million to settle with a man who said that, over the course of a 17-hour interrogation, officers coerced him into confessing to a murder that never took place.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2025
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The comments on Kobayashi’s posts are still publicly accessible, though some social media users have turned them into something more closely resembling an interrogation room.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/questioning. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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