as in interrogating
to officially ask (someone) about a job that has been done or about an experience
Police debriefed the hostages upon their return. The pilot was debriefed after his flight.
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Recent Examples of debriefing
Health care workers may dip into depression and substance abuse, and Rau seeks to counter that by debriefing his staff after tragedies and encouraging them to reach out to one another.
—
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, Charlotte’s husband is debriefing with Shaw, while obviously fudging the details of Pauly’s death.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
For Morgan, making a video at the end of the day, debriefing all aspects of the long, grueling days of recruitment, was never going to be a polished piece of content.
—Tabitha Parent, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, Charlotte’s husband is debriefing with Shaw, while obviously fudging the details of Pauly’s death.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
For Morgan, making a video at the end of the day, debriefing all aspects of the long, grueling days of recruitment, was never going to be a polished piece of content.
—Tabitha Parent, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debriefing
Verb
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This month, 11 alleged TdA members were indicted in New Mexico, accused of kidnapping, brutally interrogating and strangling to death a man in Albuquerque and burying his body in a remote desert grave, The Center Square reported.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Jan. 2026
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She’s used to getting asked about it, but is still interested in interrogating the outsized interest.—
Emily Kelleher,
InStyle,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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He was held for questioning for two days, but released without charges in connection to her death.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Roughly 20 parents spoke to the school board Thursday night questioning what would happen if Blanton closed.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Whether revisiting legendary careers or examining the fleeting intensity of modern pop, these films offer music lovers a chance to experience the stories behind the sound.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
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This past summer, Brossoit and doctors, after examining his right hip, found the root cause of the knee pain — a cam lesion on the head of his femur that was causing issues with cartilage inside the joint.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debriefing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debriefing. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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