question 1 of 2

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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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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3
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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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2
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

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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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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

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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
Then a stranger asked him a dangerous question As the two faced each other in the marketplace, the man asked him a simple question. John Blake, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025 Deeper questions were asked about Western creatives being entrusted with a historical story about the Middle East, while buyers raised concerns about the movie’s optics after the October 7 attack on Israel. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
For years Gulf countries have been forced to question America’s security guarantees. Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Trump, in a separate morning post, questioned whether companies should report their financial results on a quarterly basis and advocated moving to a semiannual system. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for question
Recent Examples of Synonyms for question
Noun
  • Instead of predictive policing that reinforces existing biases, envision AI that helps communities understand and address root causes of social problems.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • But even the right approach to the right problem risks failure if not properly executed.
    Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • La Luz del Mundo did not respond to a request for comment.
    Luc Cohen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The request was met with boos from some Democrats who pointed out that a Colorado school shooting on the same day had not received the same ceremony.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Participants met with the Hawks’ sales leadership for two hours every Friday, with lessons covering scheduling appointments, working through objections, and using and developing sales scripts.
    Ryan Stowers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Nearly every question and observation drew objections from prosecutors.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2025
  • This is yet another example of the administration’s efforts to roll back data collection and dissemination on a wide range of topics.
    Michael Posner, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Advertisement By the time of the civil rights movement, broader social and cultural changes had strengthened individuals’ sense of personal liberty, and activism challenged policy brutality and discretionary overreach.
    Time, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Encouraging private employers to fire people for expressing certain viewpoints risks encouraging viewpoint discrimination, chilling free speech, and may improperly challenge state laws that protect speech and off-duty conduct.
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Even the assassination of political figures is not the same thing as just being shot in the throat for the crime of debating issues in the public square.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 13 Sep. 2025
  • As the Fed debates its next move, remember that Warren Buffett isn’t trying to guess tomorrow’s stock chart.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • His recent tax cuts add to the unsustainable public debt the US is piling up, and to investor doubts our financial health over time.
    Harry Holzer, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • After getting with the medical staff, Topa doubts the knee injury is too serious.
    David Brown, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In a video taken by a security camera at his mother's driveway, obtained by ABC News, a federal agent can be heard asking Gamez Lira to turn off the engine and to not resist.
    Armando Garcia, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Mary Bobenmoyer, owner and general manager of Our Town Coffee & Treats, didn’t know until a reporter asked her about it in late August.
    Anna Clark, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Question.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/question. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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