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How can questions that demonstrate great understanding of a topic (rather than ignorance) be described?

As in, the question is extremely deep, or the question raises some fundamental implications, etc., and it is likely that even experts would need to do some good thinking to answer the question.

He asked several _____ questions

I would like something a bit more specific than generic synonyms-of-intelligent words like

  • intelligent
  • knowledgeable
  • astute

etc. because I really want to capture the perhaps-subtle meaning that the question demonstrates that the speaker themselves is well-read about the topic, rather than that the speaker/question is smart. Although of course, if any words like these are commonly/idiomatically applied in this specific scenario, then they'd be great answers too.

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10 Answers 10

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Insightful

Merriam-Webster

having or showing an accurate and deep understanding; perceptive:

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  • 2
    The MW definition for this doesn't really fill out the related nuance as to why this is the better answer, compared to simply "perceptive" alone. Further, not only is it the better word for this scenario semantically, it's also idiomatically the word that is used generally for the related phrasing.
    – taswyn
    Commented Jan 13, 2023 at 2:54
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Try perceptive:

Cambridge
Perceptive:
very good at noticing and understanding things that many people do not notice

Hence a perceptive question is one based on an understanding of the things most likely to be the basis of an answer, or raises issues only seen by someone with deep understanding of the difficulties of answering it.

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  • I love this answer, no idea why it's downvoted. Seems to be just the kind of word that I'm after and I'm sure that I've seen it in this context before. I won't accept it just yet because it didn't ring any bells for me the same way the "that's the one!" word often does when I ask here.
    – user163011
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 0:00
  • Since it got downvoted but I love it so much, does someone find that my question doesn't properly convey what I intend to ask? Could I improve my question?
    – user163011
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 0:01
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    Not my DV but, perceptive could also apply to someone who knows nothing about the subject up front, but is smart enough to quickly perceive the intricacies in the subject and ask questions to flesh-out their understanding.
    – Jim
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 0:25
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    Guessing at downvote reasons and I can see the point: how can a question be "good at noticing or understanding things"? Perception applies to the asker, not the question. Insightful seems to have the same problem except its definition includes one extra thing -- "having or showing a deep understanding". An insightful question can show the asker's understanding. Of course, most dictionary definitions can't carry all of the nuance, but I thing here they get it right. A response to a good Q would be "that's very perceptive of you" vs. "that's a very insightful question".
    – Owen Reynolds
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 18:58
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    EL&U is all about fine points. For example, the OP specifically wants "knowledge of the area" as opposed to being smart in general. That's pretty fine. And the definition of perceptive seems more the latter. I'm finally understanding jim's upvoted comment regarding that.
    – Owen Reynolds
    Commented Jan 12, 2023 at 1:01
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For me, the most natural would be: Pertinent

OED:

3. In later use esp. of comments, writing, etc.: referring or relating to; relevant; to the point; apposite.

1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 131 He..prefers a few good judges who make pertinent remarks on the case.

1937 C. Odets Golden Boy i. ii. 33 Ask yourself a pertinent remark: could a boy make a living playing this instrument in our competitive civilization to-day?

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    Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.
    – Community Bot
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 18:33
  • Thanks, I'm a (retired) programmer who was a tech writer. I'll pay more attention to the format here in future answers.
    – Hugh Barnard
    Commented Jan 13, 2023 at 7:44
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Perspicacious

having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

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    You need to attribute your source.
    – Laurel ♦
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 23:16
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You said...

I really want to capture the perhaps-subtle meaning that the question demonstrates that the speaker themselves is well-read about the topic, rather than that the speaker/question is smart.

That implies that the question reflects, not the ability of the querent to perceive an interesting fact (astute, perceptive, observant, etc.), but is instead an expert on the subject, suggesting the questions reflect a very deep understanding of, or involvement with, the subject.

My first thought turned to scholarly...

Cambridge

(1) containing a serious, detailed study of a subject.
(2) A scholarly person studies a lot and knows a lot about what they study.

Then I turned to something like pedagogical...

Cambridge

relating to the methods and theory of teaching.

But I think that's too specific.

I'm going to suggest erudite...

Cambridge

having or containing a lot of knowledge that is known by very few people.

Also M-W

having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying.

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  • An erudite question might demonstrate that the questioner is generally knowledgeable, but doesn't indicate knowledge about the topic. In a talk about AI, a classicist might ask an erudite question by making reference to the classical literature about hubris and linking it to modern themes, but it wouldn't demonstrate their knowledge about AI.
    – dbmag9
    Commented Jan 13, 2023 at 13:38
  • @dbmag9 Isn't your comment in conflict with the definition from Merriam-Webster? You appear to be upholding either a colloquial use above definitive use or the erudite question linking classical literature about hubris and modern themes reveals the speaker is well studied in both classical literature and modern themes - begging the question, "why are they giving a talk about AI in the first place?"
    – JBH
    Commented Jan 17, 2023 at 6:52
  • An erudite classicist might attend a talk about AI, and ask an erudite question ("showing knowledge that is gained by studying"), without themselves knowing much about AI. I'm writing from my own knowledge of the language but there's no contradiction with the definitions given here.
    – dbmag9
    Commented Jan 17, 2023 at 7:42
  • @dbmag9 Then we're in violent agreement. The setting of such a question isn't relevant. That it describes the educated nature of the querent is. Thanks.
    – JBH
    Commented Jan 17, 2023 at 16:58
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They are penetrating questions.

Penetrating adjective

3 - showing that you have understood something quickly and completely

  • a penetrating comment/criticism/question

OLD

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  • I favour James' answer, even though it is rather brief. First you have to think about what type of answer you get when you ask a question like that described. The answer is likely to be that a good or complete answer to the question might yield an unexpected, interesting answer: one that might make the asker or the person asked think or understand the topic differently. The question has probably not been asked before and has some originality. Several of the other answers already asked are good. 'Penetrating' is my personal preference. But there are several good ones.
    – Tuffy
    Commented Jan 16, 2023 at 21:53
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I would argue that you've already found the two best options: intelligent and knowledgeable.

Both are perfect for your use case. They are not as generalized as you think. Perhaps this is just an idiomatic interpretation, but intelligent question and knowledgeable question both imply a deeper understanding of the subject.

An intelligent question does not mean the person asking the question is smart in a general sense. The question is intelligent. People do not typically ask an intelligent question unless they demonstrate a deeper understanding of the topic. Sure, someone can accidentally ask an intelligent question without understanding the topic, but that is a minority of situations.

The same logic applies to "knowledgeable question". The word "knowledgeable" describes the question, not the person asking the question. A person could be regarded as not very smart in a general sense, but they can still ask a knowledgeable question if they have sufficient knowledge about the subject. Being "not smart" doesn't mean you know very little about everything. You can be someone who is "not smart" yet still have depth of knowledge on certain topics.

Lots of people have provided good alternatives, but they are not as good as the ones you already considered. Go with "intelligent" or "knowledgeable". Anecdotally, I think I hear "intelligent question" more often than "knowledgeable question" (speaking as someone from the mid-western portion of the USA).

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Collins gives searching with the below meaning and example.

A "searching question" or look is intended to discover the truth about something.

They asked her some searching questions on moral philosophy and logic.

From the above, it could be said that a "searching question" demonstrates thought on part of the asker and isn't fatuous or rhetorical. By extension, one might argue that such a question would in all likelihood have broad implications.

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  • Searching does not pre-suppose prior deep knowledge.
    – Conrado
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 14:58
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    @Conrado Maybe you're right, but I don't think one could really ask searching/trenchant questions without having a certain hang of the subject at hand.
    – user405662
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 15:03
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Telling carries the required meaning, and I'd say the default meaning (having a marked effect: 'a telling blow') can be disallowed by context:

telling: ... (2) Revealing information ...

  • a telling smile

[Wiktionary]

He was obviously well-informed: he asked several telling questions.

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Astute.

adjective having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage: an astute businessman.

Origin. early 17th century: from obsolete French astut or Latin astutus, from astus ‘craft’.

-- OED

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