interrogate
interrogate
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "interrogate" is /ɪnˈtɛrəˌɡeɪt/ (or /ɪnˈtɛrəˌɡət/ in rapid or casual speech, reflecting a reduced vowel in the final syllable).
👂 Syllable Breakdown
The word "interrogate" has four syllables: in-ter-ro-gate.
in- : The sound is /ɪn/, consisting of a short 'i' sound as in 'pit' (/ɪ/) followed by a nasal 'n' sound (/n/) that closes the syllable.
-ter- : The sound is /ˈtɛr/, which is the stressed syllable. It consists of the 't' sound (/t/) followed by the short 'e' sound as in 'bed' (/ɛ/) and the 'r' sound (/r/).
-ro- : The sound is /ə/, which is a schwa sound—a mid-central vowel common in unstressed syllables—often blending into the next consonant.
-gate : The sound is /ˌɡeɪt/ (or /ˌɡət/). This is the secondary stressed syllable. It consists of the 'g' sound (/ɡ/) followed by the diphthong 'ay' sound (/eɪ/) and the 't' sound (/t/) that closes the word.
Word Form Variations
"Interrogate" is primarily a verb. The variations are:
Base Form / Infinitive: interrogate
Third Person Singular Present: interrogates
Present Participle / Gerund: interrogating
Past Tense / Past Participle: interrogated
Related noun and adjective forms are:
Noun (Action/Result): interrogation
Noun (Person): interrogator
Adjective: interrogative
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (interrogate, interrogates, interrogating, interrogated)
Definition 1 (Official/Legal Context): To question someone thoroughly, formally, and systematically, often under duress or within an official setting (such as a police station or courtroom), to elicit facts, information, or a confession, especially concerning a crime or official matter.
Synonyms: question, cross-examine, quiz, grill, pump
Antonyms: answer, reply, respond, state, declare
Definition 2 (Technical Context): To transmit a signal or command to an electronic device or system to obtain a response, data, or status information, such as querying a database or an aircraft transponder.
Synonyms: query, poll, check, scan, probe
Antonyms: broadcast, transmit, output, send
Noun (interrogation, interrogations)
Definition 1: The formal and intensive act or process of questioning someone, typically by an authority figure, as part of an investigation or official inquiry.
Synonyms: questioning, inquiry, examination, inquest, third degree
Antonyms: declaration, statement, testimony, explanation
Adjective (interrogative)
Definition 1 (Linguistics): Expressing a question or relating to the act of questioning. (e.g., an interrogative sentence).
Synonyms: questioning, inquiring, curious, seeking
Antonyms: declarative, assertive, exclamatory, rhetorical
Examples of Use
Books and Literature (Verb & Noun)
Verb: "The police detective had three hours to interrogate the suspect before he was legally required to be released." (Fictionalized example consistent with legal thriller narratives.)
Noun (Interrogation): "The book detailed the psychological strategies used by the interrogation team to gain a confession." (Example of usage in true-crime or non-fiction investigative works.)
News and Journalism (Verb & Noun)
Verb: "Lawmakers are planning to interrogate the CEO regarding the data security breach during a hearing next month." (Congressional or legal reporting, The Wall Street Journal, May 2024).
Noun (Interrogation): "Footage from the body camera showed the initial stages of the interrogation of the witness shortly after the accident." (News coverage of a criminal case, The Guardian, March 2024).
Online Publications and Technology (Verb)
Verb (Technical): "The software is designed to automatically interrogate the server every five minutes to check for connection latency." (Example in IT or network security documentation, TechCrunch, February 2024).
Verb (Figurative): "A good data scientist will constantly interrogate their model's assumptions before presenting results." (Example in academic or professional data analysis writing, Medium, April 2024).
Entertainment and Media (Adjective & Noun)
Adjective (Interrogative): "The protagonist's internal monologue is consistently interrogative, leading him to doubt every piece of evidence he finds." (Film critique/review of a mystery genre, Variety, June 2024).
Noun (Interrogation): "The tense climax of the episode involved a drawn-out interrogation scene set entirely within a dark, sparse room." (TV show or streaming platform description/recap, Netflix Series Recap, July 2024).
General Public Discourse (Verb)
Verb: "You have to interrogate your own motives sometimes to truly understand why you made a decision." (Usage in self-help, philosophy, or public speaking about critical thinking.)
Verb (Everyday Use): "My professor loves to interrogate students on the finer points of the reading, not just the main ideas." (Informal description of a demanding teaching style.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Interrogate
"Science is more than a body of knowledge; it's a way of thinking, a way of skeptically interrogating the universe with a fine understanding of human fallibility." (Carl Sagan)
"If we are not able to ask skeptical questions, to interrogate those who tell us that something is true... then we're up for grabs for the next charlatan—political or religious—who comes ambling along." (Carl Sagan)
"The atmosphere and environment of incommunicado interrogation as it exists today is inherently intimidating, and works to undermine the privilege against self-incrimination." (Miranda v. Arizona, U.S. Supreme Court Decision, 1966)
"Let us interrogate the great apparition, that shines so peacefully around us." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"Books, purchasable at low cost, permit us to interrogate the past with high accuracy." (Carl Sagan)
"Invade me with your hot mouth; interrogate me with your night-eyes, if you want—only let me steer like a ship through your name; let me rest there." (Pablo Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets)
"For me, a poem is an opportunity to kind of interrogate myself a little bit." (Tracy K. Smith)
"In a sense I am able to interrogate myself, address myself, speak to myself, and then the reader is present at this kind of self-examination." (Paul Auster)
"The news division must constantly interrogate itself about its preconceptions, levels of knowledge and openness to ideas and criticism." (Example of usage in media commentary)
"Behold the hands, how they promise, conjure, appeal, menace, pray, supplicate, refuse, beckon, interrogate, admire, confess, cringe, instruct, command, mock and what not besides, with a variation and multiplication of variation which makes the tongue envious." (Michel de Montaigne)
Etymology
The word "interrogate" traces its origins back to Latin, and its history is quite straightforward and consistent with its current meaning:
Ancient Roots (Latin)
The word comes from the Latin verb interrogāre, which meant "to question" or "to examine." This Latin verb is a compound word formed from two parts:inter-: A prefix meaning "between" or "among."
rogāre: The root verb meaning "to ask" or "to propose."
When put together, interrogāre literally meant to "ask among" or "ask thoroughly," suggesting a detailed or back-and-forth questioning process.
Transition to English (Old French)
The word didn't come directly from Latin into English. It passed through Old French, where it existed as interroger (or a similar form) before being adopted into English.First Known Use and Meaning in English
The verb "interrogate" first appeared in the English language in the early 15th century (around 1425–1475).Original Meaning: The initial meaning in English was precisely what the Latin root suggested: "to question closely" or "to examine formally by questions."
The term was used primarily in formal, legal, or official contexts, such as a ruler or court questioning a witness or suspect, retaining the seriousness and authority implied by the Latin root.
In short, the word interrogate has meant "to ask questions" since it was first formed in Latin, and its use in English has not significantly changed since it was adopted centuries ago.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Interrogate
Common Formal Phrases (Using the Word Itself)
These phrases reflect the typical settings where the word is used:
To interrogate a suspect/witness: The most common legal phrase, meaning to formally question a person concerning a crime.
To interrogate the data: A common academic or technical phrase meaning to systematically analyze or question a set of information to draw conclusions.
To interrogate the text/source: Used in literary criticism or scholarly work, meaning to critically examine a piece of writing for deeper meaning or bias.
To submit to interrogation: A formal way of saying a person agrees to be questioned, often under legal authority.
Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EITs): A controversial term referring to methods of questioning used by intelligence agencies that go beyond standard practices.
Supplemental Idioms and Figurative Phrases (Using Synonyms or Original Constructs)
These phrases use synonyms or are contextually relevant to express the idea of intense questioning or deep inquiry:
To grill someone: (Idiom using a synonym) To question someone relentlessly or severely, similar to an intense interrogation.
To pump someone for information: (Idiom using a synonym) To try to elicit specific details or facts from someone, often secretly or continuously.
To put someone on the hot seat: (Idiom using a synonym) To place someone in a difficult position where they must face intense, critical questioning.
To cross-examine one's motives: (Figurative phrase) To rigorously challenge or investigate one's own reasons or intentions.
The third degree: (Idiom using a related noun/concept) Referring to harsh, relentless, or even brutal police questioning intended to secure a confession, which is the historical extreme of interrogation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of interrogate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
