Questionable Meaning
/ˈkwɛst͡ʃənəbl̩/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjProblematic; open to doubt or challenge.
adjOf dubious respectability or morality.
Sentence Examples
There are many questionable points in this ledger.
It is questionable whether this data can be relied on.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The evidence was so weak and full of errors that its quality was certainly ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ethics of the experiment were highly ____ and the committee refused to grant approval.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English question Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English questionable From question + -able.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"A crude, cold rain was falling heavily; the spring-time presented itself as a questionable improvement."
— 1881, Henry James, Jr., chapter 3, in The Portrait of a Lady, New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC, page 28:
"MAHA went viral across social media and led to an explosion of questionable claims regarding health and wellness."
— 2024 August 26, Mikael Thalen, “MAGA turns to roadkill-eating anti-vaxer with a brain worm to ‘Make America Healthy Again’”, in The Daily Dot:
"[…] he had a love of money—a sort of acquisitiveness, that led him into questionable dealings."
— 1920, Carolyn Wells, chapter 18, in Raspberry Jam, Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, page 302:
"Obviously modeled after Ren & Stimpy, it's about a wallaby and his flatulent dog. While some of the humor is pretty funny, some of it is questionable."
— 1995, Randy Pitman (publisher), “Some Extra Children's Videos”, in The Video Librarian, volumes 10-11, page 3:
"Thou com'ſt in ſuch a queſtionable ſhape / That I will ſpeake to thee."
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], page 257, column 1:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The evidence was so weak and full of errors that its quality was certainly ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ethics of the experiment were highly ____ and the committee refused to grant approval.