as in interrogates
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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 debriefs
After the little girl’s exam, Welsh debriefs with the attending physician in the hall.
—
Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Editor Joyce Eng discuss the new name for the SAG Awards, the Actor Awards, and Gerrad debriefs on the Governors Awards.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Editor Joyce Eng discuss the new name for the SAG Awards, the Actor Awards, and Gerrad debriefs on the Governors Awards.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debriefs
Verb
-
Employing a cast of non-professional locals, the film playfully interrogates the brutal but bungled occupation while also allowing its actors — many of whom are descendants of the fascists’ victims — to reinterpret and reclaim a chapter in their city’s past.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
Also of note, when Vader interrogates Leia on the Death Star, this would be a perfect time to use the force.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Rawlence also questions whether what Colossal is doing is really reviving extinct species.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
19 May 2026
-
Beneath today’s economic pressures remains a lingering question many workers continue asking themselves that questions what a sustainable life actually looks like in an increasingly unstable economy.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
In a 2025 study published in Personal Relationships that examines dishonesty in romantic relationships, researchers found that people most commonly described their lies as protective in nature.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
Tackling a subject close to home for writer-director Marie Kreutzer, Gentle Monster examines the fallout when Philip Weiss (Laurence Rupp) — a middle-class Austrian documentary maker, father and beloved husband — is accused of watching, distributing and maybe even making child pornography.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debriefs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debriefs. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
