1
as in to interrogate
to put a question or questions to my coworkers asked me all about my trip to Machu Picchu

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to charge
to set or receive as a price they are only asking $300 for that antique grandfather clock

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to invite
to request the presence or participation of a fixture on the party circuit, that couple is always asking people over for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb ask contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ask are inquire, interrogate, query, and question. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

In what contexts can inquire take the place of ask?

The words inquire and ask are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When would interrogate be a good substitute for ask?

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

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

When might query be a better fit than ask?

The words query and ask can be used in similar contexts, but query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

When is question a more appropriate choice than ask?

Although the words question and ask have much in common, 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 ask Take his time at Google for example, where Larry Page and the executive team once asked him to make the internet faster. Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 Reddick was asked to lower their ages because of the success of Scream and the other recent teen slashers. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 16 May 2025 Soon enough, Plum himself was asked to weigh in on the life of a 21-year-old woman. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025 Trains to and from the airport were also halted and police asked the public to refrain from arriving in the area. Tamar Michaelis, CNN Money, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ask
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ask
Verb
  • From exhibitions interrogating race and class to public programs grappling with climate change and surveillance, Somerset House became a magnet for the conversations audiences crave but most institutions are too afraid to address. Stand for something.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • The Fallout series is set in 2296, though the story routinely returns to the year 2077, interrogating how corporate interests helped facilitate the nuclear attacks that decimated the world.
    EW.com, EW.com, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Weeks after the mistrial, Melly requested that Murphy, who has since retired, set a bond.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
  • The analysis, requested by Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Soto-Martínez, would have explored whether to allow the hotel to keep a share of the tax revenues generated by the new tower.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • The Edge supports fast charging up to 25W, along with 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging (the wattage isn't specified, but is likely 4.5W like other S phones).
    Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 13 May 2025
  • Couriers charge a fee for purchasing and managing tickets.
    Lucio Vasquez, NPR, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • As a rising star at UCLA in 1967, he was personally invited by NFL Browns football star Jim Brown to participate in the Cleveland Summit.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • The village presidents of Carpentersville, East Dundee, Gilberts, Sleepy Hollow and West Dundee have been invited to talk about projects and plans for their towns, according to the chamber’s website.
    Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Some justices question why Trump admin did not seek direct ruling on birthright citizenship Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan asked why the Trump administration on Thursday sought to block nationwide injunctions rather than resolve whether a birthright citizenship order is constitutional.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • While the total square footage of office space owned and leased by the Department of General Services has increased, many state workers question whether there are enough desks for all their colleagues to be in offices in July.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Skills Gaps And Talent Constraints Effective utilization of first-party data for agentic AI demands specialized skills in data engineering, AI development and domain expertise.
    Manish Garg, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
  • To demand that every new formulation be tested against an inert placebo would mean turning back the clock to reproduce trials that may have taken place decades ago, but resulted in the licensing of the original vaccine after safety and efficacy were established.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • In 2019, a study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior saw 470 children ranging from toddlers right up to teenagers, quizzed on the topic.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
  • On the way to the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in northern Texas, the agents quizzed him about his tattoos, Mr. Alvarado later told his sister, Izaida Alvarado.
    Zolan Kanno-Youngs, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ask.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ask. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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