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
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?
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
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Recent Examples of questioning
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The prickly exchange went viral and prompted bipartisan criticism and questioning of her temperament.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
During the Miami town hall, Savannah Guthrie pressed Trump on his administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and his social media reposts questioning Osama bin Laden's death.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Noun
Judge weighs in Thurston, who did not issue a ruling in the case on Thursday, pushed back against both sides’ arguments, but was particularly sharp in her questioning of the government.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The prickly exchange went viral and prompted bipartisan criticism and questioning of her temperament.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
But don’t muddle their season up by questioning their organizational philosophy.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
During the Miami town hall, Savannah Guthrie pressed Trump on his administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and his social media reposts questioning Osama bin Laden's death.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for questioning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for questioning
Adjective
-
Overall, the five-member panel of justices appeared skeptical of the prosecution’s arguments on those points.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Some fans can get skeptical when their favorite artists incorporate more Christian-adjacent messaging in their music.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
London’s Metropolitan Police earlier this week opened a criminal inquiry into files suggesting Mandelson accepted money from Epstein and passed him confidential financial information while serving as a government minister 15 years ago.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
-
An Alberta public inquiry found that the cash to support pipeline opposition flowed to Canadian environmental activist groups through American charities, obscuring the identity of the donors.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Leading through challenging moments requires steadiness, clear priorities, and transparency.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Your 3rd House of Transmissions carries mischievous Mercury, bouncing off of reactive Uranus in your 6th House of Everyday Effort, challenging your rhythm with a last-minute task.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But homeowners like Kahn are already pondering San Jose without Mayor Mahan.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The Rams will be at home pondering what might have been.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The market seems to be doubting the odds as well.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The reaction in the comments is all over the place, with some doubting that Barrymore and Bertinelli actually went through with dyeing their hair gray.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In her remarks, academy President Lynette Howell Taylor acknowledged the questions many nominees have been asking themselves amid industry contraction, political volatility and global conflict.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In addition to asking that the subpoena be quashed, Wexner sought a protective order that would have barred plaintiffs from questioning him in the case.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Other major Jewish groups that conduct population surveys have in the past typically avoided closely interrogating Jewish opinions about Zionism.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The frontier is instead ideological, about interrogating how to reconcile a complex world into something comprehensible when doing the opposite seems easier.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Pennsylvania State Police's fire marshal unit in Greensburg is offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest in connection with a suspicious fire in August.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Clippers investigation Silver said he has been told the Clippers have been cooperative with the external investigation into their possible circumvention of the salary cap through a suspicious endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard with a now-bankrupt company.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/questioning. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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