fragwürdig

Fragwürdig is an adjective in German used to describe something that invites doubt or suspicion. It characterizes claims, methods, data, sources, or actions that are not clearly reliable, acceptable, or morally unproblematic. The term often implies that further verification is needed or that the object in question should be treated with skepticism.

In everyday language, fragwürdig can apply across contexts such as journalism, science, law, and ethics. For example, a journalist might flag a “fragwürdige Behauptung,” a scientist may critique “fragwürdige Daten,” or observers may call a practice “fragwürdiges Vorgehen.” The word signals that the credibility, integrity, or legitimacy of what is described is questionable.

Etymology and nuance: fragwürdig is formed from frag (to question) and würdig (worthy), literally meaning “worthy of questioning.” It tends to carry a stronger negative connotation than fraglich or zweifelhaft, which can be more neutral. While fraglich simply indicates doubt, fragwürdig often implies a problematic or suspicious quality that warrants caution or scrutiny.

Common usage and collocations include “fragwürdige Quelle,” “fragwürdige Finanzierung,” “fragwürdige Studie,” and “fragwürdiges Verhalten.” Related terms are zweifelhaft, dubios, and umstritten, with subtle differences in tone and emphasis.

Overall, fragwürdig is a practical descriptor in German for signaling that something requires doubt, verification, or critical examination due to questionable reliability, ethics, or integrity.