interrogation
noun
in·ter·ro·ga·tion
in-ˌter-ə-ˈgā-shən 
plural interrogations
: the act of interrogating someone or something: such as
a
: a formal and systematic questioning
She conducted a skillful interrogation of the witness.
It was old-fashioned interrogation and eavesdropping that first led U.S. intelligence agents to the … plotters.—
Michael Isikoff
Michael IsikoffAnd during interrogation, instead of just listening for inconsistencies in what is said, agents are being taught to look for minute physical reactions on the faces of people being questioned.—Ann Davis et al.
Ann Davis et al.
b
: the sending of an electronic signal intended to trigger a particular response from something (such as a transponder)
A transponder will send an identifying coded signal in response to a transmitted interrogation …—Jim Sparks
Jim SparksThe airborne equipment measures the time between the interrogation and the return signal, and converts this time measurement into a mileage reading on our instrument panel, on either a dial or digital counter.—Joseph W. Benkert
Joseph W. BenkertExamples of interrogation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aggressive national security measures, including support for warrantless surveillance and controversial interrogation tactics, marked his tenure.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
During those latter conflicts, Cheney defended harsh interrogation techniques that others labeled torture.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Cheney was an architect of the Bush administration’s war on terror and its secret detention program, defending the use of waterboarding and other interrogation techniques.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Sharon, of course, takes Avery’s mild interrogation very seriously.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
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Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
During those latter conflicts, Cheney defended harsh interrogation techniques that others labeled torture.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Cheney was an architect of the Bush administration’s war on terror and its secret detention program, defending the use of waterboarding and other interrogation techniques.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Sharon, of course, takes Avery’s mild interrogation very seriously.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrogation
Cite this Entry
“Interrogation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrogation. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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