I need to ask you a silly question.
Source: tatoeba (1417)
Question
/ˈkwɛʃ.tən/
Synonyms for "question" (472 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (95)
Noun(18 words)
doubtinquiryqueryact of askingaskassessment unitassignment topicbiology topicbrusquestcatechizingchallengechallengeschallenging behaviorcivics topicclarifying questioncontest wordcritiquecritiquing
Verb(8 words)
absurdaddressaffirmationagonizeagonize overallegationamendmentanswerapostropheapprehensionapproachascertainaskask a questionask aboutask questionsassertionassuredlyat issueaverment
Show 47 more words
awake a doubtbaffling problembasisbe at seabe curiousbe diffidentbe doubtfulbe dubiousbe skepticalbe uncertainbeat aboutbillblind bargainbone of contentionborderline casebrain twisterbring into questionburdenburn with curiositybusinesscalendarcall in questioncanvasscasecatechismcatechizecertainlychallengechancechapterchinese puzzleclausecommentcommunicate withcompanion bills amendmentconcernconfusionconsultcontactcontestcontingencycontrovertcorrespondcrackcross questioncross-interrogatorycross-question
Adjective(2 words)
academic topicchallenging
Strong matches (141)
crossword puzzlecruxdebatabledebatedebating pointdeclarationdefinitelydemanddemurdemurraldemurrerdictumdifficultydiffidencedig around fordig updisbelievediscreditdisputedistrust
Show 63 more words
distrustfulnessdouble contingencydoubtdoubtfuldoubtfulnessdoubtlesslydragnet clausedubietydubiousnessenacting clauseenigmaenigmatic questionenquireenquirerenquiryescalator clauseessenceestablish connectionexamineexclamationexploreexpressionfeel unsurefeelerfightfloorerflounderfocus of attentionfocus of interestgamblegapegawkget in touch withget togistgo around in circlesgreet with skepticismgreetinggrillgropeguesshalf believehalf-beliefharbor suspicionshave reservationsheadheadinghold-up billimpossiblein doubtin questioninconceivableindubitablyinquireinquire ofinquiryinspectinsupportableinterjectioninterpellateinterrogateinterrogationinterrogative
Noun(28 words)
data itemdebriefdebriefingdebriefsdiscreditingdisputingdistrustsdoubt the testimonydoubtfulnessdoubtsdubiousnessenquiriesenquiryexam itemexercise itemfusilladegainsayinggrillinggrillsharry
Show 8 more words
Verb(29 words)
Determiner(1 words)
few problems
Related words (236)
Noun(56 words)
interrogativeinterrogative sentenceinterview relativesinterview witnessesinterviewinginterviewsissueissuesitemitemsmath problemsmatter during reactionmatter in educationmatter under investigationmatter under studymistrustsmotionnatural language queryobject volumeobjecting
Show 36 more words
physics problemspollingpractice problemsprobeprobe thrustprobesprobingproblemproblemsprodspromptpromptsqueriesqueryingquesquiresquiz itemquiz on grammarquizzesquizzingredoubtsrequestrespond doubtfullysection itemsounding exercisesoundssubjectsurvey corroborationssurveysteaching itemtest itemtest itemstopicunderminervery doubtfulwonders
interrogatoryinterviewissuejigsaw puzzlejokerkeep in touchknotknotty pointleaderleading questionleerinessliving issuemain pointmaintain connectionmake advancesmake contact withmake inquirymake overturesmake up tomatter
Show 141 more words
matter in handmeatmentionmind bogglermind-bogglermisdoubtmisgivemisgivingmistrustmistrustfulnessmoot pointmotifmotionmotivemysterynose aroundnose around fornose outnotenutnut to crackobjectionobservationomnibus billopen questionparthian shotpeerperplexed questionperplexityphrasepiece of guessworkpig in a pokepointpoint at issuepoint in questionpollposeposerpositionpreposterousprivileged questionproblempronouncementpropose a questionpropositionpropound a questionprotestprovisopumpput queriespuzzlepuzzle overpuzzlementpuzzlerpyrrhonismqueryquestion at issuequestion markquestionablequestioningquizquodlibetraiseraise a questionreachreflectionrelaterelate toremarkremonstranceremonstrationreplyreply torequire an answerrespond toriddleriderridiculousrubberrubberneckrubricsaving clausesaysayingscruplescrupulousnessseekself-doubtsentenceshadow of doubtsight-unseen transactionsixty-four dollar questionskepticalnessskepticismsmell a ratsoundsound outstandstarestatementstickerstumpersubjectsubject mattersubject of thoughtsubjoindersubstancesuspectsuspicionsuspiciousnesstake with a grain of salttesttextthemethoughtthrash aboutthrow doubt upontopictoss uptoss-uptotal skepticismtouch and gotough propositiontreat with reservetrial balloonuncertaintyundecided issueunder considerationundoubtedlyunthinkableutterancevexed questionwagerwant to knowwarinesswhywonderwonder aboutwonder whetherwordworm out of
Verb(16 words)
interviewinterviewedmistrustedoppose changeopposesoppugnpolemizequaeritatequeriedqueryquestionedquizzedunderminesunsettlesweaken spoken performancewonder
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: doubt, inquiry, query, contradict, absurd.
- Sentence evidence is available for question, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "question".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "question"
Keep "question" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "question" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "question", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "question" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
38 entriesShowing 16 of 38 words.
More specific
14 entriescontestdebate topicdiscussion questionessay questioninterrogatemultiple choice questionquizquiz questionrefuteresearch questionshort answer questionsurvey questiontest questiontrue false question
Collocations
12 entriesask questionsessay questionleading questionopen ended questionquestion the assumptionquestion the evidencequestion the hypothesisquestion the methodquiz questionraise questionsrhetorical questiontest question
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
35 total sentences available.
Do you really need to ask the question to know the answer?
Source: tatoeba (1489)
May I ask a question?
Source: tatoeba (1594)
The key question is not what can I gain but what do I have to lose.
Source: tatoeba (1745)
Showing 4 of 35 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "question"?
Closest matches include doubt, inquiry, query, contradict, absurd.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "question"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.