150+ Icebreaker Questions for Amazing Group Discussion (2023)

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1. Icebreaker Questions for Small Groups
   • Virtual Icebreaker Questions
   • Icebreaker Questions on Art
   • Icebreaker Questions for Youth
   • Travel Icebreaker Questions
   • Icebreaker Questions for Girls
   • Icebreaker Questions on Culture
   • Icebreaker Questions on Choice
   • Icebreaker Questions on Empathy
   • Icebreaker Questions Education
   • Icebreaker Questions on Fear
   • Icebreaker Questions on Happiness
   • What would you do Icebreaker Questions
   • Icebreaker Questions on Past, Present, and Future
   • Icebreaker Questions on Perspective
   • Icebreaker Questions on Personal Development and Mindfulness
   • Icebreaker Questions on Success
   • Icebreaker Questions Technology
   • Icebreaker Questions on Opinions
   • Icebreaker Questions on Favorites
2. Icebreaker Questions for Couples
3. Funny Conversation Topics
4. What If Questions
5. Dangerous Small Group Topics
   • Questions for Small Groups on Government or Politics
   • Questions for Small Groups on Good and Bad
   • Questions for Small Groups on Love and Relationships
   • Questions for Small Groups on Ethics
   • Questions for Small Groups on Religion
   • Questions for Small Groups on Society
   • Questions for Small Groups on the World

Icebreaker Questions for Small Groups

Not every group question is appropriate for an icebreaker question.

The very WORST thing you can do when getting a group to warm up to each other is to ask the group questions that make people feel uncomfortable.

“How much is your yearly salary?”

Is an example of a group question that will stop anyone from answering and puts people on the defensive.

The secret to great icebreaker questions…

It should be a combination of an interesting conversation topic and also one that isn’t extremely personal or revealing.

Here is a roundup of the best icebreaker questions for small groups that participants have submitted over the past year of discussions.

Virtual Icebreaker Questions

• Can everyone point up, point to the left, point to the right?
• Can everyone point to me? (This will make a cool visual effect because many times as a video host you will not be in the same place for everyone, so you will see everyone pointing in a different direction than you would think)
• Can everyone choose one thing in your room that you would like to share that represents something about you?

• What is your favorite way to connect online?

• What’s the best online meeting story that you have?

• If you want some great inspiration, check out playmeo.com and their database of virtual icebreakers.

Icebreaker Questions on Art

• Does art have the power to cure?
• What is art?
• Is art still valuable in the world?

• Do you find a painting changes as you step forward or backward to view it?

• Can art influence your attitude?

• Do you favor certain colors in a painting?

• What art forms are you familiar with?

• What art forms have you yourself tried?

• Do you think the arts should be supported?

• Do you think art has an important place in our schools?

• Would you be willing to try your hand at something new?

• Can you see art in your daily surroundings?

• Do you think art has medicinal value?

• Do you think anyone can learn an art form?

• Do you think there is enough appreciation for the arts?

• Is it okay for a museum to have a controversial art exhibit?

• What are the benefits of art in your life?

Icebreaker Questions For Youth

• Do you feel like you have all the time in the world to do what you want?
• From your childhood, are there experiences that stand out?
• Did you have a favorite holiday and why?
• Are you responsible for your own life?
• Do you have a plan?
• Can we still have a good life like our parents or grandparents?
• Does your success depend on if you have a degree from a university ?
• Do you feel pressure to take a certain path in life?
• Have your friends been good or bad influencers in your life?
• Are their times you felt you had to stand up against authority?
• Are you anxious to grow up or not?
• Can you accept advice or do you need to experience it yourself?
• Can you stand up against peer pressure?
• Are there any adults that you respect and confide in?
• Is home a safe place for you to ask questions?
• Do you have opinions that differ from your family?

Travel Icebreaker Questions

• Where have you traveled?
• What places would you like to revisit?
• Where would you jump at the chance to visit?
• What’s important to know before you choose your destination?
• What factors are involved in your trip destination?
• Would it appeal to you to travel at the last minute to an unknown destination?
• What is the longest trip you would be willing to take if you had the time and money?
• Are there places that you would be afraid to venture?
• Have you ever traveled alone?
• Does a tour group appeal to you?
• Which is your favorite mode of transportation?
• Would you consider a volunteering vacation?
• What do you desire to accomplish by your trip?
• What kind of traveler are you?
• What do you try to see or do in a new place?

Icebreaker Questions For Girls

As a special note, we actually asked a girl to write these. That’s really the best way to get the best icebreaker questions for girls. Would you agree?

Also, just in case it wasn’t obvious – any of the questions throughout this entire article would be great icebreaker questions to ask a girl.

Icebreaker Questions on Culture

• In some cultures they wear black for 1 year when someone they love dies, do you think this is a good ritual? What do you do to show respect for those who have passed away?
• Globalization is inevitable – how can we make sure people who don’t want to participate can preserve their culture?
• How do you know if something is “normal”?
• It’s a very different culture. What do people need to know when they move to Thailand?
• I am a mixed-raced child. Will any country ever accept me as one of their own?

• Have you ever encountered a food that was hard to swallow but you didn’t want to offend someone?

• What’s the best way to experience a new culture for you?

• What would be disrespectful in one culture but okay in another?

• As a woman, would you be willing to wear traditional Moslem clothing and withstand the restrictions on women while traveling in a Moslem country?

• What elements of a culture do you look forward to when traveling?

• Do you think cultures can learn from each other?

• How do you blend in when you are trying to experience a new culture?

• What makes up a culture?

• What makes a culture better than another culture?

• Is it fair to judge someone’s culture good or bad?

Icebreaker Questions on Choice

• If you could be anyone in this world, other than yourself, who would you be?
• If you could create one life, what would it be?
• When does free will end and fate begin?
• If you were mayor of your town, what would you do?
• What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t got around to doing?
• What is the best advice you were given but did not take?

• Is there such thing as a “wrong” choice?

• Have you ever made what you thought was a wrong choice, but it turned out to be the right choice?

• Have you ever felt you had no choice?

• Have you ever felt there were too many choices?

• Does freedom mean more choices?

• Do more choices mean more opportunities?

• What does choose wisely mean to you?

• What are the important choices you have had to make in your life?

Icebreaker Questions on Empathy

• What do you think is the disadvantage of having too much empathy?

• What careers require some empathy in order to be successful?

• Are their certain people you have trouble feeling empathy towards?

• Could too much empathy cause problems?

• How do you show empathy?

• How do you teach empathy?

• Do you think your government is empathetic towards citizens?

• When does empathy interfere with your job?

• What does “walking in someone’s shoes” mean to you?

• Can you learn or be taught empathy?

• How can I best help someone who is battling with depression?

• How far can excuses like trauma and psychological issues go? When do you put the responsibility on the person?

Icebreaker Questions on Education

• How can we revolutionize education for the 21st century and beyond?
• What is the point of formal education?
• What do you think about your country’s education system?
• Should philosophy be taught earlier in schoolto inspire children to question more?
• What kind of effects are dire warnings about nationalism, global warming, terrorism, and more having on today’s youth?
• How does “knowing too much” benefit or harm you?

• Who was your favorite teacher and why?

• Do you think there are benefits to educating boys and girls in separate schools?

• What would you like to see included in the curriculum in high school?

• How early would job shadowing be beneficial in the school system?

• Should schools change their schedules based upon the research that shows children will benefit?

• What foreign languages do you think should be required by the high schools?

• How early do students need to choose what route they will follow after high school graduation?

• Should education be free for all?

• Do you think wearing uniforms in school is beneficial?

• What characteristics are important in a teacher?

• How much responsibility should parents take for the education of their children?

• Should school curriculums include sex education?

• How can a school involve the community?

• What does a good education mean to you?

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• What are the elements of a good education?

• Is it true that an educated person less judgemental?

• Is homeschooling a valuable way to receive an education?

• How could education become more relevant?

• What courses in high schools would you like to be required for a good education?

Icebreaker Questions on Fear

• Is it possible at all to live your life without fear?

• Do you admire people who have no fear?

• Why is the concept of “no fear” becoming popular?

• Do we let fear drive our choices?
• Is it unusual to have no fear in being jobless?

• What does fear feel like?

• When has fear got in your way?

• How do you fight fear?

• Is fear learned?

• Are their basic fears?

• Scary movies, scary rides, haunted houses…….what are the attractions?

• Can you conquer fear?

• Do your fears change as you age?

• Are there people who control others by fear?

• Can you think of places where people live in fear?

• What would you do differently without fear?

• Can you agree there are times having fear is a healthy emotion?

• Would owning a gun calm your fears?

• Do you think fear can be contagious?

• Is fear about certain things inherited?

• What are examples of irrational fear?

• What are examples of spreading fear?

• How do you contain fear?

• How do you feed fear?

• What techniques do you use to hide your fear?

• What are some circumstances that require you to hide your fear?

• Do you think males more than females are required to act fearless?

• Do you believe in God that you need not fear?

• Why is there fear of the unknown?

• Why is there fear of the stranger?

• Why is there fear to take the next step?

• Why should there be fear for what’s around the corner?

Icebreaker Questions on Happiness

• Would we be happier if we were living closer to nature?
• What defines happiness?
• What is happiness?

• Does happiness mean the same thing to everyone?

• Is there a key to happiness?

• How does happiness feel?

• Can you look for happiness?

• Would you recognize happiness if you had it?

• Do you need sadness to know happiness?

• Is happiness learned?

• Do you think happiness is an illusion?

• Would you like to be in a state of constant happiness?

• Are you afraid of too much happiness?

• Do you sabotage your happiness for others?

• Do you let others take away your happiness?

• Can you find happiness in the moments?

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• Is happiness found in a pill?

• What do you need to feel happiness?

• Is happiness a lost cause?

• Do you need to feel happiness every day?

• Do you think happiness equals good health?

• Can you buy happiness?

• What area of your life brings you the most happiness?

• What area of your life do you need to find happiness?

What would you do Icebreaker Questions

• What do you do when you find yourself stuck?
• When you have to make a tough decision, do you make your decision based on what is right OR what feels right?
• What will you do when you feel empty?
• Not including deadlines, how do you motivate yourself to get stuff done?
• How would you deal with the hurt of betrayal?
• How do you deal with people who disagree with you?
• Do you usually say what you mean? Why?
• How should we deal with frustrations?
• What drives you crazy (about a friend, colleague, or family member)? How do you deal with it?
• How can you be self-compassionate without being self-biased?
• Peoples’ attention spans are shorter now – how can we catch them?
• How can I come up with an interesting question?
• What does it mean to “be yourself”? Do you think you are these days? How can you be more yourself?
• How can we think outside the box?

Icebreaker Questions onPast, Present, and Future

• Will the future of humanity rely more on innovation, or more on mindfulness?
• Is the present better than the past?
• What should self-driving cars should factor in when it comes to decision making?
• Do you believe in fate?
• What direction is modern society headed towards?
• What is the biggest challenge facing the next generation?
• Are farming techniques of the past better than modern techniques?

• Is there a time period or era that appeals to you?

• Do you think your past determines your present or future?

• What advice would you give your past-self for your present or future?

• What can you do about the past to make your present or future easier?

• What benefits are there to reliving the past?

• Is it better to forget the past?

• Can your planning for the future have you missing out on the present?

• How do you rewrite your past?

• What figures into determining your future?

• Can you break free of the past?

• Is the future bright?

• What advice would you give someone planning for the future?

• What positive characteristics do you carry that will see you through successfully in the future?

• Are there negative characteristics that could hinder your future?

• What items are important to possess to build a stable present and bright future?

• Is your future already determined?

Icebreaker Questions onPerspective

• Some of the world’s most important people have many negative traits. What is the best way to deal with these people?
• What are some examples of justified violence that you can accept?
• If I love someone and they don’t love me back, how can I turn that into a positive?
• What are the three best things about you?
• If life for you were to end now would you be happy with what you’ve done until now?
• Are we taking things too seriously?
• What is cute?
• How much has childhood shaped who we are today?
• What is healthy?
• Have we become too connected?
• How often during your week do you stop to look around in awe of natural beauty?
• Are you a cat person?
• Anger, jealousy, hate. How should we deal with negative emotions?
• Should we respect all the opinions and ideas even if they are harmful?
• Is shutting down your brain by watching TV or doing something “not productive” that reduces your stress – negative or positive?
• Should people try to be non-judgemental or should we judge others on their actions and thoughts?
• Do morals restrict or benefit humanity?
• Is racism or prejudice a natural survival instinct or a choice?
• How much money does a person need to survive from birth to death?
• When do you think that a lie is a better option than honesty?
• Why do you think some people lie about things, even when it’s not needed?
• How positive is the impact of readily available information for youth in developing countries?
• Given a limited amount of time on Earth, what impact do you want to leave?
• What are your views on people who try to contrive, manipulate, and control circumstances in their environment but then try to evade the natural consequences that arise from it?
• What is depression and why does it exist?
• Is it selfish to have children?
• Is it important to be a risk taker?
• Do you think that to give with an intention is equal to giving with no intention?
• How do you feel about leaving your comfort zone?
• What are your thoughts on shifting from a reactive mindset to a more proactive mindset?
• When does a victim become a victim?
• Are our wedding expectations unrealistic?
• Is there any difference between thinking, feeling, or talking from the heart or from the mind?
• What separates man from beast?
• Why do people have so much trouble accepting differences?
• Why do manipulators succeed in gaining control?
• What are we doing here?
• How to make the most from listening?
• What are you looking for?
• Where does music come from?
• How to preserve one’s integrity?

Icebreaker QuestionsPersonal Development and Mindfulness

• How can I find passion?
• How can you balance life? And what is balance?
• How have you gained dignity following a crisis?
• Is it possible to “know thyself”?
• How important is it for you to be able to define yourself?

Icebreaker Questions on Success

• What’s the difference between a good boss and a good leader?
• How do you determine if someone’s successful in life?
• What is your thought on keeping “work life” and “personal life” separate?
• Is motivation important? How do you motivate yourself?
• I love helping people with their communication skills, but how do I get paid for my trainings?
• Is it natural to be happy then sad in your career? Or is there such thing as work nirvana?
• Where do you want to be five years from now?
• How do you deal with pressure from your boss, co-workers, or customers?
• What do you think of opening a business with passion but without market research?
• Is willpower a skill that can be learned and improved, or do you think individuals have natural limits?

Icebreaker Questions onTechnology

• Will artificial intelligence eventually become a God?
• What could be the next scientific discovery to disprove current thinking?
• Thinking of the idea of humans possibly living in a virtual reality – does that affect our morals?
• Is technology something to appreciate or fear?
• What is the difference between augmented reality and personal perspective?

Icebreaker Questions on Opinions

• Do you think regrets can be a good thing?
• Is a good deed that goes unappreciated worthless?
• They say “curiosity killed the cat” how much curiosity is healthy?
• Is life just a game?

Icebreaker Questions on Favorites

• What is your favorite question to ask a stranger?
• What are your favorite books to read right now?
• What is your favorite question to ask someone you just met?

Icebreaker Questions for Couples

Icebreaker Questions for couples are really about diving deep into a relationship between two people. They’re different than our standard icebreaker questions for small groups. (We also have an article devoted to deep questions about life if you want even more of these)

These questions should be asked when you have privacy and time to get more personal.

Funny Conversation Topics

Funny conversation topics are a category all on their own because they don’t have to just be used as icebreaker questions.

These questions can be asked in a variety of different situations.

Everyone needs a good laugh every now and then.

So mixing it up a bit with a little silliness is sometimes called for. Of course, choose the situation and timing – be careful what you ask your boss, mother-in-law, or professor.

• Would you want to live forever as a machine in human body form like Battlestar Galactica?
• If you could, would you move to Mars?
• Is B.o.B. right, is the Earth Flat?
• What has been your most embarrassing moment?
• Would you rather be raised by wolfs until the age of 18 or thrown into a pack of coyotes at age 35?
• Why do 24-hour stores have locks on the doors?
• What’s the most outlandish fact that you know?
• What’s your most embarrassing favorite song?

What If Questions

What if questions are a lot of fun. Typically you would ask something like:

“What if hundred dollar bills magically came into your pocket…”

Then there’s always a consequence of that action…

“…but every time you pulled the hundred dollar bill out someone in the world died.”

What if questions are great for humorous conversations or to see where people’s choices lie. I don’t want to limit your creativity so I’ll leave it up to you to fill in the other part of the questions listed here.

• What if aliens exist?
• What if you woke up as your favorite celebrity?
• What if you could live anywhere on the planet?
• What if you only had 1 hour left to live?
• What if in the future people have to pay for privacy?
• What if money was never an issue?
• What if you could be President for 1 week, what would you change?

Questions for Small Groups – Danger Zone

Proceed with CAUTION!!!

Not all questions for small groups are created equal. When’s the last time you had a casual conversation with someone about politics…

I thought so.

Tread lightly with these icebreaker questions – they are only to be used by the experienced facilitator, teacher, or host.

The reason why…

These questions are POLARIZING, meaning there is normally very little grey are when it comes to people’s opinions. They are either strongly for or against something.

When that happens you can bet that emotions will run high. Make sure to pay special attention to body language and be prepared to be a calming force if you want the discussion to continue.

Questions for Small Groups onGovernment or Politics

• To what degree should the government help people affected by a hurricane?
• Can community-based, grassroots movements take place with no funding and money involved?
• What is the best way to build bridges between political parties?
• Does the United States have the best form of government?
• Should there be any limit to freedom of expression? If so, what should be limited?
• How does the travel ban make you feel?
• Should everyone have the right to vote?
• What do you think about Communism?
• It’s easy to say “borders shouldn’t exist”, but do borders have a purpose?
• When immigrants move to a new country should they keep their culture, adapt to the new culture, or should the country change?
• How do you feel about the increase in mass surveillance?
• Are we living in a disguised dictatorship?
• How is it possible that in the US, Heroin deaths increased 533% since 2002?

Questions for Small Groups onGood and Bad

• Is charity bad?
• Should we express all of our feelings, or should we keep bad feelings inside?
• Are you a good person? What is it that makes you a good or bad person?
• Why do many cultures think that tattoos are dirty or bad?
• Do victims sometimes support bad things to happen?
• When is Nuclear war good?
• What makes a good mentor?

Questions for Small Groups onLove and Relationships

• Do you believe in a real friendship between a woman and a man?
• Do we need love to be happy?
• What should you do when your partner is completely opposite?

Questions for Small Groups on Ethics

• Is it okay for foreign, young people to be busking or begging for money in Southeast Asia?
• What’s wrong with “not changing” and “staying the same”?
• How do you change from “no one” to be “someone” – and from “someone” to be the “only one”?
• Why do we care so much about being judged?
• What are we really looking for?

Questions for Small Groups onReligion

• Does religion do more harm than good?
• Why did many major world religions develop around the same time?
• Do we need religion?
• Are we making a mistake by ignoring religion and faith?

Questions for Small Groups onSociety

• Does society need a real crisis to get itself back together?
• What is society for?
• Are we as divided and fragmented as a society as we’re being told?
• Is a jobless person considered a burden to society? What about Monks?
• 1 in 10 older people experience abuse every month – why?

Questions for Small Groups on theWorld

• Is right now a better world than the past?
• How can you find truth in a “post-fact” or “alternative-fact” world?
• Can empathy save the world?
• How can I be myself in a world full of excessive consumerism?
• With so much turmoil now, will World War III bring peace?
• Are people currently upset by the worlds political climate actually suffering or just having identity issues?
• Can hope change the world?
• How is the world going to end?
• What is the most effective way to help health, life, and the environment?

Share, Share, Share

Questions are the beginning of a path towards understanding.

They won’t do any good if only kept to yourself.

Share this resource and start a great conversation with someone that you care about, or maybe that you want to learn more about.

These are great icebreaker questions, which include funny conversation topics, perfect group questions, and if you really want to reveal someone’s creativity, offer up a “what if icebreaker question.”

“Icebreaker Questions, How Can I Use This For my Next Group Discussion?”

I created a FREE icebreaker question cheat sheet and easy-to-clip question page so you can quickly use the information from this post at your next group.

Click below to download it.

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