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
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
Her winning work, titled Behula and a Thousand Tales (2024), uses photography, prints, text, and sculpture to interrogate the role of women in Bangladesh and beyond.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Set on Merseyside and interrogating the ways in which today’s parents impose their agendas, the drama focused on a group of teens from disparate backgrounds, each of whom could have committed the crime, along with their parents – who gave equal cause for suspicion.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2024
Over the course of the day, the criminals basically torture this family, and through fourth-wall breaks, Haneke interrogates why people would even want to watch something like this, illuminating what art can reveal about the dark side of humanity.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for interrogate 
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The Week Uk, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Her winning work, titled Behula and a Thousand Tales (2024), uses photography, prints, text, and sculpture to interrogate the role of women in Bangladesh and beyond.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Set on Merseyside and interrogating the ways in which today’s parents impose their agendas, the drama focused on a group of teens from disparate backgrounds, each of whom could have committed the crime, along with their parents – who gave equal cause for suspicion.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2024
Over the course of the day, the criminals basically torture this family, and through fourth-wall breaks, Haneke interrogates why people would even want to watch something like this, illuminating what art can reveal about the dark side of humanity.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 25 Oct. 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 22 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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