questionable

/ˈkwɛstʃənəbəl/

Say it: KWES-chuh-nuh-buhl

1. adjective Doubtful as to its truth, quality, or honesty; open to suspicion.
The company's accounting practices were questionable and led to an investigation.
2. adjective Open to disagreement or debate; not certain or definite.
It is questionable whether this new policy will actually solve the problem.

📖 Seen in the wild

The politician's financial dealings were highly questionable, leading to an investigation.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ questionable in a sentence

He has a questionable reputation in the business community.
The legality of their actions is highly questionable.
Her taste in fashion has always been a bit questionable.
The witness's testimony was of questionable value, as he couldn't remember key details.
We decided not to invest because the source of the funding was questionable.
It's questionable whether we'll arrive on time with all this traffic.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

dubious suspicious debatable shady problematic iffy controversial uncertain

dubious · implies a stronger sense of doubt and suspicion, especially about truthfulness

suspicious · suggests something seems wrong and untrustworthy, often hinting at deceit

debatable · focuses more neutrally on something being open to argument, with less moral judgment

shady · an informal term strongly suggesting dishonesty or illegality

Opposites: unquestionable, certain, indisputable, reliable, trustworthy

🌱 Where it comes from

The word is a straightforward combination of 'question' and the suffix '-able', literally meaning 'able to be questioned'. It entered English in the 15th century from the Old French 'questionable'. Its root, 'question', traces back to the Latin 'quaerere', meaning 'to ask' or 'to seek'.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

questionable decisionquestionable charactermorally questionableof questionable valuequestionable legality

'Questionable' is a powerful word for expressing doubt without making a direct accusation. It carries a distinctly negative connotation, suggesting that something is likely wrong, of poor quality, or immoral. While it can be used in formal contexts, it is more common in general and professional speech than in highly academic writing. It is more formal than 'shady' or 'iffy' but less intense than 'dubious'.

Word family: question, questionably, unquestionable, unquestionably

💬 Quick answers

What does 'questionable' mean?

It means that something is doubtful and open to question, often because it is suspected of being dishonest, of poor quality, or morally wrong.

What is the difference between 'questionable' and 'dubious'?

'Questionable' suggests something is open to being challenged. 'Dubious' is stronger, implying a more definite sense of doubt and suspicion about something's truth or reliability.

Is 'questionable' a negative word?

Yes, it almost always carries a negative connotation. Calling something 'questionable' implies you have a reason to believe it is not good, right, or true.

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