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

Synonym Chooser

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 During an event to celebrate the return of Heathers the Musical to the stage on Monday, June 30, in New York City, PEOPLE asked the King of Queens star, 60, how his viral performance with Jelly Roll in Columbus, Ohio, came to be. Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 1 July 2025 Frequently asked questions What are the disadvantages of Hughesnet? Hughesnet plans have data caps of 100 or 200 GB, which can be easy to hit. Kara McGinley, USA Today, 1 July 2025 After discussing the options with attorneys for both sides, Judge Arun Subramanian asked the jury to keep deliberating on the remaining charge, which is what prosecutors and defense attorneys asked for. Court then ended for the day. July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025 Hostin asked on Friday's show, after co-host Joy Behar prompted her to tell their co-hosts that day, including Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Ana Navarro, what had happened. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ask
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ask
Verb
  • To really interrogate love today, the band went back in time to examine these concepts over the generations.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025
  • Their new works, spanning sculpture, installation, and mixed media, use architectural motifs as both metaphor and material, interrogating how personal and political histories are built—and unbuilt.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Enterprising sellers were buying Nintendo products in bulk in Southeast Asia and exporting them to the US, said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential information.
    Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 30 June 2025
  • Not far away, Colt, who requested USA TODAY only use his first name for privacy reasons, was living a similar life.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Ten-year veteran Terry Rozier, who has started nearly 400 games in his career, has also been investigated for suspicious betting patterns surrounding his participation, but he has not been charged with any crimes and remains in the league.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025
  • Keep your access fully charged for just $2.50 $1 per month for one year.
    Zoë Schiffer, Wired News, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Now he is invited back to the Panthers’ rink for years to come.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
  • At present, only those explicitly invited, many of whom are a select group of superfans with large followings in the Tesla community, may hail one of his robotaxis.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The network of community leaders and officials all questioned the administration’s determination that Haiti is now safe enough for people to return.
    Churchill Ndonwie, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
  • Interest Rates: While speaking at an event in Portugal Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was questioned about the timing of an interest rate cut.
    Catherine Brock, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Our hope is that this data not only inspires, but demands more intentional hiring, marketing and investment in Black women.
    Essence, Essence, 7 July 2025
  • Advertisement Hamas, meanwhile, has vowed not to disband and is demanding a full withdrawal of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) from Gaza.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • The 75-minute chat covered nearly all aspects of filmmaking as Schreier got quizzed on stunts (yes, that one), camera angles, visual effects, color grading, music selections, sound design, post-production, casting, editing and more.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
  • Following Trump's lead, Republicans are likely to quiz Powell on what the hold-up is for easier monetary policy, while liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has been urging Powell to cut as well.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ask.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ask. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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