questionable

• quæstionable (archaic)

From question +‎ -able.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwɛst͡ʃənəbl̩/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ques‧tio‧nable

questionable (comparative more questionable, superlative most questionable)

1. 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.

2. Of dubious respectability or morality.

   Tiffiny’s behavior is highly questionable.

   • 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.

3. (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.

• → German: fragwürdig (calque)