Meaning & use

interrogate

verb·Academic

To question someone formally and thoroughly, often in an aggressive or persistent manner.

See it in a sentence

Detectives interrogated the suspect for hours before he finally confessed.

The journalist interrogated the senator about the missing funds during the interview.

A note on using this word

Interrogate implies a more forceful, formal questioning than simply ask, often used in police or legal contexts.

Words with a similar meaning

questioncross-examine

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “interrogate”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.