There are question games and activities everywhere.
You’ve probably asked or answered dozens of types of questions.
But if you’re looking for something new and unexpected to break the ice, why not try a few nonsensical, confusing questions that they won’t see coming?
They can liven up a conversation and help people think differently, whether at a party or just catching up with friends or family.
Questions that don’t make sense can push us to think outside the box, open ourselves to new possibilities, and challenge our beliefs.
They can be confusing, thought-provoking and inspiring, but most of all they will spark conversations that make us laugh and think.
So if you want to explore life’s unanswerable brain teasers and mind expanders, we have some confusing questions for you to ask to get the conversation started.
What is a nonsense question?
A nonsense question can be difficult to define because it must be meaningless, but somewhat answerable.
In general, a nonsensical question doesn’t make logical sense at first, but leads one down a path that twists the thoughts to find a creative answer.
These questions can be tricky and fun, or even confusingly deep!
Here are some responses you can expect if you ask a confusing or nonsensical question:
- They make people think differently: Most people have automated answers to simple questions, but nonsensical questions throw that out the window.
- They provoke laughter: Most of the nonsensical questions are funny and can bring a little levity to any conversation.
- They make people curious: Nonsensical questions lead to more confusing and interesting conversations because they often require creative solutions or answers that don’t exist.
- They don’t always have a clear right or wrong answer: Nonsense questions often have multiple possible interpretations and many confusing answers.
- They can provoke an emotional response: Because nonsensical questions catch people off guard, they can trigger an emotional response.
These answers make confusing questions much more interesting or revealing to ask, which can lead to a richer conversation.
If the question is confusing enough, it can even end a conversation!
75 of the most confusing questions to break the ice
And now here are 75 interesting but confusing questions, divided into categories ranging from funny, unanswerable questions to very deep questions.
They are sure to get your creative juices flowing during a conversation:
Funny confusing questions
1. Are fish ever thirsty?
2. Why doesn’t a sheep’s wool shrink when it rains?
3. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
4. Is a tree really wise if it cannot talk?
5. If the plural of mouse is mice, what is the plural of husband?
6. Why do we use No. 2 pencil instead of No. 1 pencil?
7. If your hand has a palm, is it a tree?
8. Why is it that pencils need to be sharpened, but pens don’t?
9. Why do we press harder on a remote control when the batteries are low?
10. If roses are red, why are violets blue?
11. What happened during your last good conversation with your dog?
12. Do people eat or drink their soup?
13. Why don’t cats have nine lives like they used to?
14. Do mermaids lay eggs like fish or give birth like humans?
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Questions that make no sense
15. Is nothing everything, or is everything nothing?
16. If you and I are different individuals, how come we can’t switch places? Why aren’t you me, and why aren’t I you?
17. What name does an animal call itself? Is a dog known as a dog in dog language?
18. Why can’t I see everyone when I’m alone and know that others exist in my mind?
19. If mirrors don’t reflect each other, why can I see myself in the mirror?
20. Is there a way to go up and down at the same time?
21. How can you invent something that doesn’t exist?
22. Can one person be two people at the same time?
23. What color is your invisible friend?
24. What do you do in your dreams while you are awake?
25. Does time ever run out?
26. Can fire be put in water?
27. What dimension do you live in?
28. Who let the dogs out?
29. If money doesn’t grow on trees, why do banks have so many branches?
30. What time is it on the sun?
Confusing questions to ask your friends
31. Would you like to meet me for lunch yesterday?
32. Did you think of my idea before or after I thought of it?
33. When do you stop being yourself?
34. Why can’t we see the future even though it has already happened?
35. What have you done before?
36. If I’m here and you’re there, who’s everywhere?
37. What do your dreams smell like?
38. Is friendship like a boat to you?
39. If you had to do it again, would you?
40. If we wanted to, could we fly to the moon?
41. How many colors do you see in a rainbow?
42. Is it possible to turn back time?
43. What would you do with more than 24 hours in a day?
44. Are you your own best friend, and if so, why?
45. Am I your friend or a figment of your imagination?
46. Can we count to infinity together?
47. If you feel lost, why are you here?
48. Am I telling a lie or the truth when I say I’m telling you the truth?
49. Is my truth the same truth as your truth?
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Confusing questions that make you think
50. What do you do when you’re doing nothing?
51. Can life be complete without death, or does death give meaning to life?
52. Do thoughts travel faster than light?
53. How can something be “new and improved” if it has never been used before?
54. Is there such a thing as outside, or is everything in your head?
55. How do you know if you really know something?
56. Is time a loop, a straight line or a spiral?
57. Is a thought just a thought, or can it be anything you want?
58. What is the difference between imagination and reality?
60. What would happen if we were all honest with each other at the same time?
Trippy questions
61. Does time have an end, or is it infinite?
62. Is the universe really random, or are we just too small to see its order?
63. Is there anything in life that is truly certain? If so, how can you be sure?
64. Do souls get sick?
65. Do we live in an alternate universe?
66. What if your dreams are real?
67. Are memories collective or individual?
68. Does every action have an equal and opposite reaction, and if so, why don’t we see it in action?
69. What lies beyond the boundaries of space and time? Can our body or consciousness ever transcend this limit?
70. Is life a random pattern or predetermined by a higher force?
71. Does technology expand or limit our consciousness?
72. What is the meaning of life if life contains all meanings?
73. If thoughts are energetic vibrations, what is the source of power that fuels them?
74. Is the Earth a single organism, and are we simply living under the illusion that we are individual beings?
75. How can we be a single entity if we are made up of millions, if not billions, of many different parts?
How to use these unanswerable questions
Sometimes confusing questions can lead to interesting conversations and deeper insights. But if you use them at the wrong times, people may think you’re just trying to be confusing.
When asked in the right context, unanswerable questions can be a great way to get people thinking about life’s bigger questions and mysteries.
Here are some ideas for when and how to use these confusing questions:
- Use them as an icebreaker at parties or gatherings: Try using random but thought-provoking questions to get the conversation started when the room is quiet. Unusual questions can really help people feel more comfortable by distracting them from their anxiety.
- Start an intellectual debate: Organize a group to ask pressing, unanswerable questions and discuss their opinions. A friendly back-and-forth conversation can lead to interesting insights if everyone listens and responds respectfully.
- Incorporate them into creative storytelling and writing: Use confusing questions as plot points in a story or story that you create alone or with a group of friends. This can deepen a story and make it more interesting.
- Play with it during dinner: Ask confusing questions to your family at dinner to get the conversation started. This is a great approach if you’re bored or the dinner routine has become stale.
- Share them online: Post interesting, confusing questions on social media to get people thinking and debating.
- Use confusing questions to explore yourself: Think about life’s unanswered questions and write down your thoughts.
- Turn these questions into a game: You can easily gamify them by writing them on paper, putting them in a jar and letting people select one at random. To keep score, people can vote for the best answer after everyone’s answer, and the most popular answer can earn a point.
Regardless of how you use confusing questions, remember that the goal is to have an open conversation.
Some of these questions will not have definitive answers, but they can still provide valuable insight into our thoughts and beliefs about life.
Final thoughts
You will be surprised by the many answers you get and the conversations you will have when you start using confusing questions in your daily life.
Whether they lead to deep insights or just a few laughs, unanswerable questions can be a great way to spark creativity and thought-provoking discussions!
