interrogate

verb in·ter·ro·gate \ in-ˈter-ə-ˌgāt , -ˈte-rə- \

|Updated on: 17 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: interrogate in a Sentence

Definition of interrogate

interrogated; interrogating

transitive verb

1 : to question formally and systematically

2 : to give or send out a signal to (a device, such as a transponder) for triggering an appropriate response

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interrogatee

play \in-ˌter-ə-(ˌ)gā-ˈtē\ noun

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interrogation

play \in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shən\ noun

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interrogational

play \in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See interrogate defined for English-language learners

See interrogate defined for kids

Examples of interrogate in a Sentence

interrogate a prisoner of war
interrogated him about where he'd gone the night before

Recent Examples of interrogate from the Web

The incidents have given rise to the hashtags #LivingWhileBlack and #LivingWhileBrown and often end with a black or brown person being interrogated by police or being carted off in handcuffs.

— cleve r. wootson jr., OrlandoSentinel.com, "Woman threatens to call police on 8-year-old selling water for trip to Disneyland," 24 June 2018
This simple plot device allows a fuzzy window onto the tortured soul of Calvin and interrogates the reader as well.

— mark peters, Chicago Reader, "Nick Drnaso’s second graphic novel, Sabrina, examines the perils of living too long in your own head," 22 May 2018
The dust jacket of Pulitzer Prize-winning Shakespeare scholar Stephen Greenblatt's new book Tyrant pulses vivid red, and the book asks sharp questions about the ways William Shakespeare interrogates the idea of political authority in his plays.

— steve donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Tyrant' examines the evidence of popular attraction to demagogues as seen in Shakepeare's plays," 15 May 2018
In another case of doing anything simple while being Black, a Black Yale University student was interrogated by campus police officers after a white student reported her on Monday for napping in her dorm's common room.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Napping While Black? White Yale Student Called Cops On Black Student Sleeping In Common Room," 10 May 2018
Shimron was detained for questioning last year, as were a range of senior military officers and other Netanyahu advisers, while Molcho has been interrogated.

— matthew campbell, Bloomberg.com, "Benjamin Netanyahu Could Be Heading for a Fifth Term. Or to Court," 14 June 2018
But Haspel's nomination was contentious because of her role in a former CIA program to brutally detain and interrogate terror suspects at covert sites abroad following 9/11.

— lisa mascaro, Fox News, "Senate votes to confirm Haspel as 1st female CIA director," 17 May 2018
Democrats say she should be disqualified due to her involvement with a now-defunct program of detaining and brutally interrogating terror suspects.

— aubrey nagle, Philly.com, "Thousands join Broad Street Run, grads get words of wisdom | Morning Newsletter," 7 May 2018
He was arrested, interrogated, brutally tortured, tried, and sentenced to death.

— ronen bergman, New York Times, "Israel’s Secret Operation to Recover the Watch of a Legendary Spy," 5 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'interrogate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of interrogate

Latin interrogatus, past participle of interrogare, from inter- + rogare to ask — more at right

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

interrogate Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of interrogate

ask, question, interrogate, query, inquire mean to address a person in order to gain information. ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

- ask for directions

question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

- questioned them about every detail of the trip

interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

- the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

- queried a librarian about the book

inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions.

- began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

INTERROGATE Defined for English Language Learners

interrogate

verb

Definition of interrogate for English Language Learners

: to ask (someone) questions in a thorough and often forceful way

INTERROGATE Defined for Kids

interrogate

verb in·ter·ro·gate \ in-ˈter-ə-ˌgāt \

Definition of interrogate for Students

interrogated; interrogating

: to question thoroughly

Police interrogated a suspect.

Law Dictionary

interrogate

transitive verb in·ter·ro·gate \ in-ˈter-ə-ˌgāt \

legal Definition of interrogate

interrogated; interrogating

: to question formally and systematically; especially : to gather information from (a suspect) by means that are reasonably likely to elicit incriminating responses — see also miranda rights

Note: Under Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291 (1980), interrogating includes not just express questioning, but also any words or actions that the police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response. Asking questions that are normally asked in the course of arrest or booking (such as questions about name or age) is not considered interrogation.

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