interrogate

[in-ter-uh-geyt]

See more synonyms for interrogate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), in·ter·ro·gat·ed, in·ter·ro·gat·ing.

to ask questions of (a person), sometimes to seek answers or information that the person questioned considers personal or secret.
to examine by questions; question formally: The police captain interrogated the suspect.

verb (used without object), in·ter·ro·gat·ed, in·ter·ro·gat·ing.

to ask questions, especially formally or officially: the right to interrogate.

Origin of interrogate

1475–85; < Latin interrogātus past participle of interrogāre to question, examine, equivalent to inter- inter- + rogā(re) to ask + -tus past participle suffix

Related formsin·ter·ro·ga·ble

[in-ter-uh-guh-buhl] /ɪnˈtɛr ə gə bəl/, adjectivein·ter·ro·gat·ing·ly, adverbin·ter·ro·gee

[in-ter-uh-gee] /ɪnˌtɛr əˈgi/, nounre·in·ter·ro·gate, verb, re·in·ter·ro·gat·ed, re·in·ter·ro·gat·ing.un·in·ter·ro·ga·ble, adjectiveun·in·ter·ro·gat·ed, adjective

Synonyms for interrogate

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1. query.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for interrogating

grill, investigate, query, examine, quiz, inquire, pump, question, roast, catechize, cross-examine, cross-question

Examples from the Web for interrogating

Contemporary Examples of interrogating

And few people, myself included, look forward to interrogating their beliefs that deeply.
The Imaginary 'Moynihan Report'
Jamelle Bouie
March 14, 2014
She said Shon had “freaked out” after I left, interrogating her about who I was dating.
Busting a Cyberstalker: How Carla Franklin Fought Back—and Triumphed
Abigail Pesta
October 12, 2012
He immediately went into reaction mode, and I realized that I was interrogating him the way Elizabeth did for years.
10 Juiciest Bits From Rielle Hunter’s Tell-All John Edwards Memoir
June 21, 2012
He was overwhelmed in a prison revolt while interrogating prisoners.
The First American: Excerpt from Henry Crumpton’s ‘The Art of Intelligence’
Henry A. Crumpton
May 14, 2012

Historical Examples of interrogating

The second accusation he meets by interrogating Meletus, who is present and can be interrogated.
Apology
Plato
This is the case of all statements obtained by interrogating witnesses.
Introduction to the Study of History
Charles V. Langlois
The detective did not appear to have heard the protest of the man he was interrogating.
The Crevice
William John Burns and Isabel Ostrander
I had no difficulty in interrogating the dame du caf about my new acquaintance.
Arthur O'Leary
Charles James Lever
The interrogating miscreant on this said, "Why, thy father is a heretic!"
Fox's Book of Martyrs
John Foxe

British Dictionary definitions for interrogating

interrogate

verb

to ask questions (of), esp to question (a witness in court, spy, etc) closely

Derived Formsinterrogatingly, adverb

Word Origin for interrogate

C15: from Latin interrogāre to question, examine, from rogāre to ask

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for interrogating

interrogate

late 15c., a back-formation from interrogation, or else from Latin interrogatus, past participle of interrogare "to ask, question" (see interrogation). Related: Interrogated; interrogating.