questionable

adjective

ˈkwes-chə-nə-bəl How to pronounce questionable (audio)
Definition of questionablenext
1
as in dubious
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged the runner's unexpected first-place finish is questionable, so a drug test has been ordered

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur it's questionable that he will show up tonight considering all the bad weather we're having

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in debatable
open to question or dispute whether it will rain today or not is questionable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective questionable contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of questionable are doubtful, dubious, and problematic. While all these words mean "not affording assurance of the worth, soundness, or certainty of something," questionable may imply no more than the existence of doubt but usually suggests that the suspicions are well-grounded.

a man of questionable honesty

Where would doubtful be a reasonable alternative to questionable?

The words doubtful and questionable can be used in similar contexts, but doubtful implies little more than a lack of conviction or certainty.

doubtful about whether I said the right thing

In what contexts can dubious take the place of questionable?

While the synonyms dubious and questionable are close in meaning, dubious stresses suspicion, mistrust, or hesitation.

dubious about the practicality of the scheme

When is it sensible to use problematic instead of questionable?

The synonyms problematic and questionable are sometimes interchangeable, but problematic applies especially to things whose existence, meaning, fulfillment, or realization is highly uncertain.

whether the project will ever be finished is problematic

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 questionable But one thing’s for sure: if trouble runs on espresso martinis and questionable decisions, this crew has already paid the tab. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025 Several questionable calls went against their way, including three off-the-ball fouls that changed the momentum of the game. —Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 The Pistons are listing Jalen Duren (leg) and Tobias Harris (heel) as questionable for Monday’s game. —Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Burks had been questionable earlier in the day due to back discomfort. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for questionable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for questionable
  1. dubious
  2. unlikely
  3. debatable
  4. doubtful
  5. problematic
  6. controversial
  7. suspicious
Adjective
  • In his second term, the president has fewer people around him who try to keep dubious sources away.
    — Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Doctors prescribe it to ease symptoms of testosterone deficiency — among them weight gain, muscle loss and depression — but dubious clinics also sell the therapy as a cure-all for a crisis of masculinity.
    — The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of dubious
Adjective
  • New natural gas production is unlikely to expand significantly until more liquefaction infrastructure is completed and takeaway capacity improves.
    — Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The duo had previously used a similar approach to show that convection was unlikely within the mantle of Mercury, a world that is too small and has cooled down too much since its formation some 4.5 billion years ago.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of unlikely
Adjective
  • Taking supplements such as magnesium and melatonin is debatable.
    — Sophie Okolo, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The president’s early claims that the import taxes will bring back jobs is debatable, and duties have a poor historical track record of boosting manufacturing employment.
    — Josh Fellman, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of debatable
Adjective
  • Cunningham, meanwhile, was doubtful to suit up through a left calf contusion.
    — Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
  • One day after being listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns with a left ankle sprain, Tatum was upgraded to questionable.
    — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of doubtful
Adjective
  • Building a Sustainable Future Compression of organizational hierarchies isn't inherently problematic, but the failure to address the human and operational needs that middle managers traditionally meet certainly is.
    — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • This is especially problematic if, in these precarious times, their contacts are all similar to them.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of problematic
Adjective
  • President Trump's controversial choice to be the top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., Ed Martin, faces an uncertain future, as a Senate Democrat plans to put an indefinite hold on his nomination.
    — Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Several of the cases were brought by Buzbee, a controversial lawyer from Houston.
    — Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of controversial
Adjective
  • At least 11 cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea within 15 months, the alliance heavily suspicious of Russian influence.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The incident is being investigated by the San Diego County Sheriff’s homicide unit because authorities found the nature of the death to be suspicious, Lt. Juan Márquez said.
    — Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of suspicious

Browse Nearby Words

question
questionable
questionableness
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Cite this Entry

“Questionable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/questionable. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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