questionable

American  

[kwes-chuh-nuh-buhl] / ˈkwɛs tʃə nə bəl /

adjective

1. of doubtful propriety, honesty, morality, respectability, etc..

   questionable activities; in questionable taste.

   Antonyms:

   certain

2. open to question or dispute; doubtful or uncertain.

   a statement of questionable accuracy.

   Synonyms:

   dubious, dubitable, controvertible, disputable, debatable

3. open to question as to being of the nature or value suggested.

   a questionable privilege.

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questionable British  

/ ˈkwɛstʃənəbəl /

adjective

1. (esp of a person's morality or honesty) admitting of some doubt; dubious

2. of disputable value or authority

   a questionable text

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Other Word Forms

• questionability noun
• questionableness noun
• questionably adverb

Etymology

Origin of questionable

First recorded in 1580–90; question + -able

Example Sentences

The prediction markets are under growing scrutiny as a steady drip of questionable trades make headlines.

From Barron's

In recent years, IRS criminal investigators have launched an increasing number of probes into questionable refunds in cases similar to Murrin’s.

From MarketWatch

Sometimes, a billionaire has very questionable scruples as to the best ways to go about things.

From Los Angeles Times

The concern isn’t only questionable ethics—it’s market uncertainty.

From The Wall Street Journal

But whether that would make Tehran more pliant, let alone spur regime change, is questionable.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ambiguous
• arguable
• controversial
• debatable
• dubious
• problematic
• suspicious
• unproven
• vague