interrogate
verb
in·ter·ro·gate
in-ˈter-ə-ˌgāt 
-ˈte-rə-
interrogated; interrogating
1
: to question formally and systematically
2
: to give or send out a signal to (a device, such as a transponder) for triggering an appropriate response
Synonyms
Examples of interrogate in a Sentence
interrogate a prisoner of war
interrogated him about where he'd gone the night before
Recent Examples on the Web
Some were interrogated about their involvement with Scarlett’s pay equity survey and were told their activities were being monitored, and that they could be demoted, according to the complaint.
—
Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
The non-profit convened a series of surveys and focus groups with consumers and retail investors to interrogate their views on how companies talk about climate change.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 2 Nov. 2024
Pisces Rising In your experience, Scorpio Season naturally lends itself to engaging with life’s mysteries and approaching the world as a big unknown to be interrogated.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024
Available on The Week Bookshop A Thread of Violence
Mark O'Connell, 2023
Another book that interrogates the act of writing about crime.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for interrogate 
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Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
The non-profit convened a series of surveys and focus groups with consumers and retail investors to interrogate their views on how companies talk about climate change.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 2 Nov. 2024
Pisces Rising In your experience, Scorpio Season naturally lends itself to engaging with life’s mysteries and approaching the world as a big unknown to be interrogated.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024
Available on The Week Bookshop A Thread of Violence
Mark O'Connell, 2023
Another book that interrogates the act of writing about crime.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for interrogate
Dictionary Entries Near interrogate
Cite this Entry
“Interrogate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogate. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
interrogate
verb
in·ter·ro·gate
in-ˈter-ə-ˌgāt
interrogated; interrogating
: to question formally and thoroughly
interrogator
noun
-ˈter-ə-ˌgāt-ər
Legal Definition
interrogate
transitive verb
in·ter·ro·gate
in-ˈter-ə-ˌgāt
interrogated; interrogating
: to question formally and systematically
especially
: to gather information from (a suspect) by means that are reasonably likely to elicit incriminating responses see also miranda rights
Note: Under Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291 (1980), interrogating includes not just express questioning, but also any words or actions that the police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response. Asking questions that are normally asked in the course of arrest or booking (such as questions about name or age) is not considered interrogation.
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