questionable
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Etymology tree
Pronunciation
[edit]Adjective
[edit]questionable (comparative more questionable, superlative most questionable)
- Problematic; open to doubt or challenge.
- It is questionable if the universe is open or closed.
- 1881, Henry James, Jr., chapter 3, in The Portrait of a Lady, New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC, page 28:
- A crude, cold rain was falling heavily; the spring-time presented itself as a questionable improvement.
- 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[1]:
- MAHA went viral across social media and led to an explosion of questionable claims regarding health and wellness.
- Of dubious respectability or morality.
- 1920, Carolyn Wells, chapter 18, in Raspberry Jam[2], Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, page 302:
- […] he had a love of money—a sort of acquisitiveness, that led him into questionable dealings.
- 1995, Randy Pitman (publisher), “Some Extra Children's Videos”, in The Video Librarian[3], volumes 10-11, page 3:
- 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.
- (obsolete) Inviting questions; inviting inquiry.
- 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:
- Thou com'ſt in ſuch a queſtionable ſhape / That I will ſpeake to thee.
Derived terms
[edit]Descendants
[edit]- → German: fragwürdig (calque)
Translations
[edit]problematic; open to doubt or challenge
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of dubious respectability or morality
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