Synonyms of interrogate

interrogate

verb

in-ˈter-ə-ˌgāt 

1

as in to ask

to put a question or questions to

interrogated him about where he'd gone the night before

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ask
• question
• quiz
• inquire (of)
• query
• catechize
• examine
• grill
• cross-examine
• bombard
• besiege
• cross-question
• pump
• survey
• poll

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• respond
• answer
• reply
• observe
• avoid
• rejoin
• comment
• remark
• retort
• duck

2

as in to examine

to put a series of questions to

police interrogated the murder suspect for hours on end

Synonyms & Similar Words

• examine
• question
• catechize
• query
• pump
• quiz
• grill
• cross-examine
• harass
• debrief
• pick the brains of
• pester
• annoy
• give the third degree to
• sweat
• cross-question
• hound
• canvass
• poll

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb interrogate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of interrogate are ask, inquire, query, and question. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning.

the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day

When could ask be used to replace interrogate?

The words ask and interrogate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ask implies no more than the putting of a question.

ask for directions

When is inquire a more appropriate choice than interrogate?

The synonyms inquire and interrogate are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 might query be a better fit than interrogate?

Although the words query and interrogate have much in common, query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation.

queried a librarian about the book

When can question be used instead of interrogate?

The words question and interrogate can be used in similar contexts, but question usually suggests the asking of series of questions.

questioned them about every detail of the trip

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of interrogate

Investigators sat across from nearly every young child at Skyline – many of whose nascent, swinging legs could not yet reach the ground from their chairs – interrogating them over their missing classmate. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 23 June 2026

While Europeans at Ellis Island did face medical inspections and some were even detained, Asians and Pacific Islanders at Angel Island were especially not welcomed; because of anti-Chinese exclusion laws, they instead were inspected, interrogated and detained in prison-like conditions. — Matt Alderton, USA Today, 22 June 2026

It was generally considered antipatriotic and morbid to interrogate the official account. — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 20 June 2026

Griffin pushes Citadel to interrogate its methods and break industry precedent. — Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026