question

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. problem, subject; query, interrogation; doubt, dispute. See inquiry. —v. t. interrogate, examine, cross-examine, quiz; dispute, challenge, doubt.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [A query]

Syn. inquiry, inquiring, interrogatory, interrogative, interrogation, inquisition, feeler, catechism, inquest, rhetorical question, burning question, crucial question, leading question, catch question, academic question, vexed question, sixty-four dollar question*.

Ant. answer*, solution, reply.

2. [A puzzle]

Syn. enigma, mystery, problem; see puzzle 2 .

3. [A subject]

Syn. proposal, topic, issue; see issue 1 , subject 1 .

• beside the question,

Syn. not Germane, beside the point, immaterial; see irrelevant .

• beyond question,

Syn. beyond dispute, without any doubt, undoubtedly; see surely , unquestionably .

• in question,

Syn. being considered, under discussion, under consideration, under advisement, at issue, controversial, in dispute, up for discussion, on the floor, on the agenda; see also controversial , questionable 1 , uncertain 2 .

• out of the question,

Syn. not to be considered, by no means, unthinkable; see impossible 1 .

v.

1. [To ask]

Syn. inquire, interrogate, examine, query, quest, seek, search, sound out, petition, solicit, ask about, catechize, show curiosity, pry into, ask a leading question, challenge, raise a question, pick one's brains, make inquiry, quiz, cross-examine, probe, investigate, interview, debrief, put to the question, bring into question, grill*, pump*, give the third degree*; see also ask 1 .

2. [To doubt]

Syn. distrust, suspect, dispute; see doubt 1 , 2 .

See Synonym Study at ask .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. inquiry enquiry, query, interrogatory, examination, investigation, poser.

2. uncertainty doubt, controversy, misgiving, hesitation, debate, confusion.

3. issue matter, subject, problem.

ANT.: 1. answer, reply. 2. certainty, confidence

II

v.

1. ask inquire, enquire, query, seek an answer, interrogate, examine, quiz, probe, investigate, grill, cross-examine, pump.

2. doubt challenge, mistrust, suspect, disbelieve, wonder about, call into question.

ANT.: 1. answer, reply. 2. trust, have confidence in

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. A request for data: inquiry, interrogation, query. Law: interrogatory. See ASK, INVESTIGATE. 2. A situation that presents difficulty, uncertainty, or perplexity: hornets' nest, issue, problem. Informal: can of worms. See EASY. 3. A lack of conviction or certainty: doubt, doubtfulness, dubiety, dubiousness, incertitude, mistrust, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty, wonder. See CERTAIN. II verb 1. To put a question to (someone): ask, examine, inquire, query, quiz. See ASK. 2. To be uncertain, disbelieving, or skeptical about: distrust, doubt, misdoubt, mistrust, wonder. Idiom: have one's doubts. See CERTAIN.