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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

Examples 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 The decision comes as Caring for Denver faces scrutiny about questionable spending of the city's 0.25% sales tax dedicated to mental health and substance abuse services. John Frank, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024 Recommended The Monitor's View A questionable pardon’s deeper resonance The radical populist hopes to profit from his budding bromances with President-elect Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Isabel Debre, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024 The Chicago Bears have listed wide receiver DJ Moore and running back D'Andre Swift as questionable for Sunday's Week 14 game against the San Francisco 49ers due to quad injuries, per Ari Meirov. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024 Some people also find drinking tap water questionable, so this is a clean and techy way to hydrate. Andrew Watman, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for questionable 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for questionable
Adjective
  • When dubious tips are fed into the deluge of leads submitted to authorities, according to the law professor, that could squander finite police resources spent vetting the information.
    Emma Bowman, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024
  • In one case, the Los Angeles Times embellished details about the Mary Celeste for dramatic effect, changing the captain’s name and turning the real-life mystery into a dubious myth.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • By way of Mike Curb, Motown also became the unlikely home of Pat Boone, the unabashedly wholesome (and religious) crooner and actor who’d become one of rock’s earliest stars thanks to his covers of songs by Little Richard and Fats Domino.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2024
  • In the late eighteenth century, an unlikely inmate was sent by Dutch colonial authorities to the infamous Robben Island, where freedom fighters including Nelson Mandela would later be imprisoned.
    H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • However, whether that is beneficial for the greater good is debatable.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
  • The ethics of moving to Canada for those unhappy with incoming U.S. political leadership is debatable, of course.
    Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Brooks is officially doubtful to return with what is being called a knee injury.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
  • And the people around him, ecstatic around this choice, the people, the close advisers -- although there were many doubtful as to whether this is a pick that’s going to be confirmed.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Charging in cold temperatures Charging an electric vehicle in cold weather is generally not problematic.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Holiday shopping is just one example of a seemingly benign activity that could become problematic if AI is taken too far.
    Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The charter system itself, established in 2016, has been controversial, offering teams guaranteed spots in races and apparent financial stability.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Assad’s regime was highly controversial across the world.
    Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Be sure to double-check the app’s log to confirm all suspicious activity has been addressed.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Alfred Dreyfus and the Affair that Divided France, the Jewish officer unjustly accused of treason after a cleaning-lady, who stole documents for the government, found a suspicious note in a waste-paper-basket in the German Embassy.
    Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 13 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near questionable

Cite this Entry

“Questionable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/questionable. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on questionable

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