questionable

/ˈkwestʃənəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkwestʃənəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkwes-chə-nə-bəl ˈkwesh- in rapid speech ˈkwesh-nə-/ (ame, mw)

questionable — adjective

  • questionablepositive
  • more questionablecomparative
  • most questionablesuperlative

1. if something is questionable, there are reasons to doubt whether it is true, acc

1.形容詞B2
釋義

if something is questionable, there are reasons to doubt whether it is true, accurate, or of good quality

例句

Shirin questioned the company's profit figures because the data seemed questionable.

collocation: questionable data / questionable figures

The judge threw out the evidence after the defence showed it was of questionable origin.

collocation: questionable origin

同義詞
  • doubtful

    more neutral and slightly weaker than questionable; can refer to any lack of certainty

  • dubious

    more formal than questionable; often suggests active suspicion

  • uncertain

    broader in scope; does not carry the sense of suspicion that questionable does

反義詞
  • certain

    the opposite of doubtful

  • reliable

    the opposite of being untrustworthy or inaccurate

常見錯誤

❌The data is questionable wrong.
✅The data is questionable.
💡'questionable' already conveys doubt; do not add another word like 'wrong' after it.

2. if a person's actions or behaviour are questionable, people have good reason to

2.形容詞B2
釋義

if a person's actions or behaviour are questionable, people have good reason to suspect the person is being dishonest or doing something that is not morally right

例句

Heather's questionable business practices included charging customers for services they never received.

collocation: questionable business practices

The politician's questionable behaviour during the election led to an official investigation.

同義詞
  • dubious

    more formal; suggests stronger suspicion of dishonesty than questionable

  • shady

    informal; suggests dishonest or possibly illegal activity

  • suspicious

    can describe both people and actions; wider in use than questionable

反義詞
  • ethical

    morally correct and honest

  • above board

    informal phrase meaning honest and open in business dealings

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person's actions, behaviour, practices, or methods — not the person themself. Saying 'a questionable person' is unnatural in English.

常見錯誤

❌He is a very questionable person.
✅His actions are questionable.
💡'questionable' describes behaviour or practices, not a person directly.