inquisitor

in·qui·si·tor
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UK/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtəː/UK[ɪnˈkwɪzɪtʰəː]UK/ɪŋˈkwɪzɪtəː/UK[ɪŋˈkwɪzɪtʰəː]

noun

A person who inquires, especially searchingly or ruthlessly.

“During the meeting, Jake turned into an inquisitor, firing questions at the presenter non-stop.”

Similar
interrogator
OriginOld French inquisiteur ← Latin inquīsītor →
Less commonScrabble 19
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Meanings

nouninquisitor (plural inquisitors)

plural inquisitors · alternative obsolete inquisitour

  1. A person who inquires, especially searchingly or ruthlessly.

    During the meeting, Jake turned into an inquisitor, firing questions at the presenter non-stop.

  2. historicalAn official of the ecclesiastical court of the Inquisition.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna questioner who is excessively harsh

Similar
interrogator
Broader
inquirerenquirerquestioner
Also see
inquirerinterrogatorqueristqueryistquestioner

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latininquīsītor
  2. Old Frenchinquisiteur
  3. Englishinquisitor

From Old French inquisiteur, from Latin inquīsītor.

More words from Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian инквизитор
  • инквизитор (inkvizitor)official of the Inquisition
Catalan inquiridor, inquisidor
  • inquiridorinterrogator, questioner
  • inquisidorinterrogator, questioner
  • inquisidorofficial of the Inquisition
Czech inkvizitor
  • inkvizitorinterrogator, questioner
Danish udspørger, inkvisitor
  • udspørgerinterrogator, questioner
  • inkvisitorofficial of the Inquisition
Finnish inkvisiittori
  • inkvisiittoriinterrogator, questioner
French inquisiteur
  • inquisiteurinterrogator, questioner
German Inquisitor, Befrager
  • Inquisitorinterrogator, questioner
  • Befragerinterrogator, questioner
  • Vernehmerinterrogator, questioner
  • Inquisitorofficial of the Inquisition
  • Ketzerrichterofficial of the Inquisition
  • Untersuchungsrichterofficial of the Inquisition
Greek ανακριτής, ιεροεξεταστής
  • ανακριτής (anakritís)interrogator, questioner
  • ιεροεξεταστής (ieroexetastís)official of the Inquisition
Polish inkwizytor
  • inkwizytorofficial of the Inquisition
Portuguese inquisidor, inquiridor
  • inquisidorinterrogator, questioner
  • inquiridorinterrogator, questioner
  • inquisidorofficial of the Inquisition
Spanish inquisidor, inquisidor
  • inquisidorinterrogator, questioner
  • inquisidorofficial of the Inquisition
Swedish inkvisitor
  • inkvisitorofficial of the Inquisition
Turkish engizisyoncu
  • engizisyoncuinterrogator, questioner
Welsh chwilyswr, chwilyswr
  • chwilyswrinterrogator, questioner
  • chwilyswrofficial of the Inquisition
Cite this entry
APA

inquisitor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inquisitor

MLA

“inquisitor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inquisitor. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inquisitor,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inquisitor.

Source: inquisitor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.