Meaning & use

interrogating

verb·Academic

Questioning someone formally and closely, often to obtain information or a confession.

See it in a sentence

Detectives spent hours interrogating the witness about the night of the robbery.

The customs officer began interrogating the traveler about the contents of his bag.

A note on using this word

Interrogating is more formal and intense than simply 'asking', often implying an official or adversarial setting.

Words with a similar meaning

questioninggrilling

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

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