query 1 of 2

Definition of querynext

query

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb query contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of query are ask, inquire, interrogate, and question. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

When might ask be a better fit than query?

In some situations, the words ask and query are roughly equivalent. However, ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

When can inquire be used instead of query?

While in some cases nearly identical to query, 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

In what contexts can interrogate take the place of query?

The synonyms interrogate and query are sometimes interchangeable, but interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

Where would question be a reasonable alternative to query?

The words question and query are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of query
Noun
Required qualifications included proficiency in programming and query languages. Arkansas Online, 30 Apr. 2026 Mandelson, a former British ambassador to the United States who was fired in September amid his ties to Epstein, did not respond to the Herald’s queries. Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
Two senior administration officials told us that the vice president has queried the accuracy of the information the Pentagon has provided about the war. Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026 Journalists can use the platforms to query followers by posting questions to their network. Kirstin Pellizzaro, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for query
Recent Examples of Synonyms for query
Noun
  • The Salt Lake County district attorney’s office and the Draper City prosecutor both declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
    Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • There’s a bit of bad dream and doubt, and a bit of songwriting tips and tricks.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In February, opponents packed the City Hall chambers ahead of a planned Historic Preservation Board meeting, which was ultimately deferred at the Fontainebleau’s request after one of the board members didn’t show up.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Virginia’s Democratic attorney general, Jay Jones, urged the state Supreme Court to pause the lower court’s order and allow certification of the election to resume, a request the commonwealth’s high court denied on Tuesday.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Every mistake is magnified, every penalty is questioned, every shortcoming is analyzed.
    John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
  • In that clip, Cohen, 57, questioned whether the CMO role is typically short-term.
    Staff Author, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The team asked people to memorize locations on a graph while smelling the scent of rose.
    Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
  • At one point, Iran asked to move its games to Mexico, but that request was rejected.
    Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • But beyond its account of a family in flight, from both the authorities and its own murkier truths, Dangerous, Dirty, Violent and Young interrogates the radicalism of the 1960s and 70s, its unlikely alliances, its political legacies, and its many, many casualties along the way.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The Plant Humanities Initiative at Dumbarton Oaks explores intertwined cultural and biological histories like this one, using plants to interrogate the complexities of human society.
    Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Supporters said the proposal was met with skepticism by lawmakers who recognize the private entities do not have taxpayer funding like their public counterparts and need to be paid for their services.
    Christy Gutowski, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
  • Reports suggesting Sarah Ferguson has stepped back from public life to protect her family are being met with skepticism from within her own circle.
    Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • His inquiry surfaces a history of abuse, homophobia, and despair, and the film uses the tragedy to probe questions of moral accountability and collective indifference in Hong Kong.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
  • House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) cited national security and cybersecurity risks posed by reliance on Chinese models as a reason for the joint inquiry.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Meeting a partner’s family can be challenging in any circumstance; anxieties about a family member saying something rude or belittling can only compound that.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • The case challenged Louisiana’s congressional map, which included two majority-Black districts out of six in a state where about one-third of the population is Black.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Query.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/query. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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