Questionable — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈkwes-chə-nə-bəl/ ques·tion·able

Meaning & Definition of Questionable

Questionable (adjective)

  1. inviting inquiry
  2. liable to judicial inquiry or action
  3. affording reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged, not certain or exact, problematic

Questionable (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: debatable, disputable, dodgy (chiefly British), doubtable, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, fishy, problematic, queer, shady, shaky, suspect, suspicious
    related: alleged, so-called, supposed, moot, ambiguous, open, unclear, uncertain, undecided, undetermined, far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, unlikely, weak
    opposite: certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unproblematic, unquestionable
    near: decisive, definitive, clear, obvious, open-and-shut, positive

  2. 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"

    similar: doubtful, dubious, far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, unapt, unlikely
    related: implausible, impossible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable, absurd, bizarre, crazy, fantastic, foolish, insane, nonsensical, odd, outlandish, preposterous, ridiculous, unreal, wild, outside, remote, slight
    opposite: likely, probable
    near: believable, conceivable, credible, earthly, imaginable, plausible, possible, potential, liable

  3. open to question or dispute

    "whether it will rain today or not is questionable"

    similar: arguable, controvertible, debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, issuable, moot, negotiable
    related: contradictable, refutable, controversial, debated, disputed, dubious, iffy, inconclusive, indecisive, problematic, shaky, uncertain, academic, hypothetical, speculative, theoretical, ambiguous, equivocal
    opposite: accomplished, certain, hands-down, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefragable, positive, questionless, settled, sure, unanswerable, unarguable, unchallengeable, undebatable, undeniable, unquestionable
    near: irrefutable, definite, unambiguous, unequivocal, absolute, clear, conclusive, decisive, uncontested, undisputed

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Questionable

The most common words with a similar meaning to Questionable:

Chiefly British: dodgy
debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, fishy, problematic, queer, shady, shaky, suspect, suspicious, far-fetched, flimsy, improbable, unapt, unlikely, arguable, controvertible, issuable, moot, negotiable

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Questionable

Words with the opposite meaning of Questionable:

certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unproblematic, unquestionable, likely, probable, accomplished, inarguable, incontrovertible, irrefragable, positive, settled, unanswerable, unarguable, unchallengeable, undebatable

Related Words for Questionable

alleged, so-called, supposed, ambiguous, open, unclear, uncertain, undecided, undetermined, weak, implausible, impossible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable, absurd, bizarre, crazy, fantastic, foolish, insane, nonsensical, odd, outlandish, preposterous, ridiculous, unreal, wild

Near Antonyms of Questionable

decisive, definitive, clear, obvious, open-and-shut, believable, conceivable, credible, earthly, imaginable, plausible, possible, potential, liable, irrefutable, definite, unambiguous, unequivocal, absolute, conclusive, uncontested, undisputed

Word Forms of Questionable

Derived words: questionableness (noun), questionably (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Questionable

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Questionable

What does "Questionable" mean?

"Questionable" means inviting inquiry. As an adjective, it is defined as: inviting inquiry. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Questionable"?

Other words for "Questionable" include debatable, disputable, dodgy, doubtable, doubtful, dubious, dubitable and equivocal. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Questionable" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Questionable"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Questionable". Common alternatives include debatable, disputable, dodgy, doubtable, doubtful, dubious, dubitable, equivocal, fishy and problematic.

What is the opposite of "Questionable"?

Antonyms of "Questionable" include certain, hands-down, incontestable, indisputable, indubitable, questionless, sure and undeniable. Near antonyms include decisive, definitive, clear and obvious.

How do you use "Questionable" in a sentence?

Examples of "Questionable" in a sentence: "the runner's unexpected first-place finish is questionable, so a drug test has been ordered"; "it's questionable that he will show up tonight considering all the bad weather we're having"; "whether it will rain today or not is questionable".

Is "Questionable" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Questionable" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Questionable"?

"Questionable" is pronounced /ˈkwes-chə-nə-bəl/ and divided into syllables as ques·tion·able.

What is the origin of the word "Questionable"?

First known use: 15th century.