inquisition

A series of questions, often so many or so forceful that they make someone uncomfortable.

• Dinner turned into an inquisition.
• I endured an inquisition about my new boyfriend.
• Why does every family visit involve an inquisition?

How to use it: inquisition about something (I faced an inquisition about where I had been.)

Similar words: interrogation, questioning, grilling

Common phrases: endless inquisition, face an inquisition, inquisition about something

An investigation seen as unfairly targeting people because of their beliefs or opinions.

• Critics called the inquiry an inquisition.
• The committee's investigation became a political inquisition.
• Several writers lost their jobs during the ideological inquisition.

Similar words: witch hunt

Common phrases: political inquisition, ideological inquisition, inquisition against someone

An investigation carried out to find the truth about something.

• An inquisition was ordered.
• The committee conducted an inquisition into the dispute.
• Its records describe an official inquisition into the ownership of the land.

How to use it: inquisition into something (The council ordered an inquisition into the missing funds.)

Similar words: investigation, inquiry

Common phrases: official inquisition, conduct an inquisition, inquisition into something

An official legal inquiry, often into a death, or the written finding of that inquiry.

• The coroner held an inquisition.
• The jury's inquisition recorded an accidental death.
• A copy of the inquisition was filed with the court.

Similar words: inquest

Common phrases: coroner's inquisition, jury's inquisition, hold an inquisition