questionable

[kwes-chuh-nuh-buh l]

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adjective

of doubtful propriety, honesty, morality, respectability, etc.: questionable activities; in questionable taste.
open to question or dispute; doubtful or uncertain: a statement of questionable accuracy.
open to question as to being of the nature or value suggested: a questionable privilege.

Origin of questionable

First recorded in 1580–90; question + -able

Related formsques·tion·a·ble·ness, ques·tion·a·bil·i·ty, nounques·tion·a·bly, adverb

Synonyms

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2. debatable, disputable, controvertible, dubitable, dubious.

Antonyms

1. certain.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for questionable

Contemporary Examples

There is a whole genre of books not sold in regular stores but usually on street stalls in questionable neighborhoods.
Prisoners Get Cultural Fix with 8-Tracks and Bootleg Cassettes
Daniel Genis
August 18, 2014
I should have know this was a lie when the new number I was given had a questionable history as well.
Where Cellphone Numbers Go to Die
Jon Methven
August 16, 2014
I had recently attended a wedding because a text message had referenced some questionable behavior.
Where Cellphone Numbers Go to Die
Jon Methven
August 16, 2014
Now, one music festival is taking their stance a step further by placing a ban on the questionable accessory.
Cara Delevingne Is Topshop’s Solo Star; Music Festival Bans War Bonnets
The Fashion Beast Team
July 28, 2014
The supercharge doses of vitamins have questionable benefits.
Forget 5-Hour Energy: Tea Is a Better Buzz
Gregory Ferenstein
July 22, 2014

Historical Examples

Not Najma this questionable companion, but one as dear to Khalid.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani
"I thought maybe he were a friend," said the stranger, with questionable veracity.
The Shadow of a Crime
Hall Caine
And which among the components of happiness and well-being can possibly be questionable?
The Memorabilia
Xenophon
Only for a moment, and then he continued the questionable pleasure of following her.
The Strollers
Frederic S. Isham
No message in cipher, nor any that is at all questionable, must be sent or delivered.
The Destroyer
Burton Egbert Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for questionable

questionable

adjective

(esp of a person's morality or honesty) admitting of some doubt; dubious
of disputable value or authoritya questionable text

Derived Formsquestionableness or questionability, nounquestionably, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for questionable

adj.

1580s, "that may be interrogated;" c.1600, "open to dispute, doubtful," from question (v.) + -able. Deprecatory sense of "dubious in character" is attested from 1806. Related: Questionably.

questionable

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}questionable

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for questionable

Contemporary Examples

There is a whole genre of books not sold in regular stores but usually on street stalls in questionable neighborhoods.

I should have know this was a lie when the new number I was given had a questionable history as well.

I had recently attended a wedding because a text message had referenced some questionable behavior.

Now, one music festival is taking their stance a step further by placing a ban on the questionable accessory.

The supercharge doses of vitamins have questionable benefits.

Historical Examples

Not Najma this questionable companion, but one as dear to Khalid.

"I thought maybe he were a friend," said the stranger, with questionable veracity.

And which among the components of happiness and well-being can possibly be questionable?

Only for a moment, and then he continued the questionable pleasure of following her.

No message in cipher, nor any that is at all questionable, must be sent or delivered.

questionable

Word Origin and History for questionable

adj.

Origin of questionable