as in skeptical
inclined to doubt or question claims
a naturally questioning person, she demands rock-solid proof before she believes anything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in inquiry
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of questioning
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024
But in her questioning of Santos, Crockett pushed back on Comer’s assertion that the census benefitted Democrats, as both of Texas’s new seats were won by Republicans.
—Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024
Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Dec. 2024
Many families are prioritizing financial stability over the prestige of a brand-name college, questioning whether the investment in a traditional college education is always the right choice.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for questioning 
Noun
The questioning is the most significant development in the manhunt for the shooter since Thompson was killed outside the New York Hilton Midtown on the morning of Dec. 4.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024
But in her questioning of Santos, Crockett pushed back on Comer’s assertion that the census benefitted Democrats, as both of Texas’s new seats were won by Republicans.
—Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
Police later arrested the man and are questioning him.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Dec. 2024
Many families are prioritizing financial stability over the prestige of a brand-name college, questioning whether the investment in a traditional college education is always the right choice.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for questioning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for questioning
Adjective
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Godard’s intellectual approach never turns skeptical.Armond White, National Review, 20 Dec. 2024
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Some were skeptical that this could be correct, but more reports were needed to be sure.David Phelan, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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An inquiry from Newsweek to the senators about what specific incidents, reports and/or complaints spurred the letter earlier this year received no response.David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
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The 14 corrections employees accused of being involved in the attack were placed on administrative leave around the time the death was disclosed amid inquiries by the department’s Office of Special Investigations, the state attorney general and the State Police.Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The transition to South Indian filmmaking style proved challenging for the actor.Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Dec. 2024
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This decision is part of broader litigation challenging the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), with several district courts ruling in favor of the Treasury's position on the CTA's constitutionality.Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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There may be some benefit from these policies, but business leaders pondering their 2025 plans will want to focus on their own labor needs.Bill Conerly, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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Also, don’t be surprised to hear stories about Pacquiao pondering yet another fight, even though Roach, Arum and Sternburg will be there to immediately talk him out of it.Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Injuries have hampered his career a bit, but there is no doubting his talents, especially on the offensive end.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
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Despite the reports, some are doubting that anything serious is going on.Steve Almasy, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In an effort to relieve Downtown traffic congestion, state transportation officials are asking some motorists to divert to Interstate 275 during the ongoing partial closure of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 24 Dec. 2024
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Starbucks spokesperson Gee said the coffee chain is asking unionized baristas and Workers United to return to the bargaining table to wrap up contract negotiations, which have been ongoing since April.Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This could be weird network traffic, suspicious logins or unauthorized data access.Sarath Babu Yalavarthi, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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And don't be afraid to ask for help or report suspicious activity.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In recent years, Pierson has become convinced that a coercive interrogation technique common among U.S. law enforcement agencies can lead to wrongful convictions, and has championed new models of questioning.Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
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Edu oversaw a holistic interrogation of how Arsenal identify and recruit players all the way from the under-8s up to the men’s and women’s first teams.James McNicholas, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/questioning. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.
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