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

But despite the bruising of her sizable ego, there are still deals to be made, so she keeps Matt close, dispensing all sorts of questionable advice from her billion-dollar hilltop home.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet to call this a partition—in the sense of its being a severing of conjoined people—is questionable.

From The Wall Street Journal

His latest is “The Widow,” a mystery featuring Simon Latch, a small-town lawyer with questionable morals and a gambling habit who is accused of murdering a wealthy woman.

From The Wall Street Journal

I don’t want to spoil the songs, but knowing that this was meant to be a student-created musical of somewhat questionable taste, what was it like to create that show?

From Los Angeles Times

Leonard had been listed as questionable before the game with a left knee contusion.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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