🗣️ Asking questions 🤔 Showing doubt

questioning

8 3.9

Showing doubt or wanting to know more

adjective
/ˈkwɛsʧənɪŋ/

: cuestionador

His questioning look suggested that he was not convinced by her explanation.

Examples

Throughout all of his career, he's just endlessly curious, endlessly observant and questioning, always questioning.
The student's questioning attitude during the lecture impressed the professor.
Her questioning nature led her to explore new ideas and seek deeper understanding.

Synonyms

curious

vsquestioning

724 1.3

Wanting to learn more about something and asking questions

includes doubt and uncertainty as well as simple eagerness to learn

skeptical

vsquestioning

261 4.2

Not easily believing that something is true

can also show simple curiosity or confusion rather than disbelief

inquisitive

vsquestioning

25 4.4

Wanting to know or learn things, sometimes too nosy

is a neutral attitude of doubt or curiosity without nosiness

doubting

vsquestioning

12 4.4

Feeling not sure that something is true or correct

can also be a curious or confused attitude, not only disbelief

probing

vsquestioning

11 6.5

Asking careful questions to find the truth

is more general, showing interest or doubt not only deep inquiry

inquiring

vsquestioning

9 3.9

Curious and asking questions to learn more

is more general, covering doubt or confusion as well as interest

quizzical

vsquestioning

7 7.1

A look that shows mild confusion and a little amusement

expresses broader doubt, curiosity, or confusion rather than playful puzzlement

wondering

vsquestioning

3 2.0

Curious and wanting to know more

is broader, including doubt and confusion as well as curiosity

speculative

vsquestioning

2 6.9

Looking curious, as if trying to guess what someone thinks

is broader, showing doubt, curiosity, or confusion rather than only possibilities

interrogative

vsquestioning

Specialized

2 6.1

In the form of a question to ask someone for information

is an attitude of doubt or curiosity rather than grammatical form

interrogatory

vsquestioning

Formal

1 9.1

Showing that someone asks questions in a formal, serious way

is broader and personal, not limited to formal legal inquiry

interrogational

vsquestioning

Specialized

7.7

The grammar and sound used to make questions

focuses on attitude and doubt rather than grammatical properties

askant

vsquestioning

Archaic

9.9

Looking to one side with doubt or suspicion

is a general attitude of seeking information, not only a look

Antonyms

certain

722 1.0

Feeling sure and having no doubt

Compounds

line of questioning

22 4.2

A set of connected questions asked to explore a topic

How Questioning

skeptical

261 4.2

inquisitive

25 4.4

questioning

8 3.9

curious

724 1.3

doubtful

14 3.0

Surface Forms

questioning positive

Morphology

questioning = question (semi-transparent) = question + ing

The form clearly contains 'question' + '-ing', but the adjective sense 'expressing doubt or curiosity' is a conventional participial use rather than a fully literal action meaning.

Etymology

Questioning comes from an old Latin word quaerere, meaning 'to ask' or 'to look for', and it shares the same root as question and quest. So a questioning look or mind is like someone 'looking for' answers, showing doubt or wanting to know more.