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Definition of inquisitionist

inquisitionist

/ˌɪnkwəˈzɪʃənɪst/
in · qui · si · tion · ist
Plural:inquisitionists
•
Adjective:inquisitional
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inquisitionist Lexical Profile

inquisitionist Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who conducts a harsh, intensive, or intrusive investigation or interrogation; an inquisitor.

Example

"During the committee hearing, the lead counsel acted like a relentless inquisitionist, demanding answers to every minor discrepancy."

2

An official or supporter of the ecclesiastical Inquisition.

Example

"The historical treatise examined how the sixteenth-century inquisitionist justified the suppression of heretical texts."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for inquisitionist

Word Nuance & Usage

Today, "inquisitor" is overwhelmingly preferred over the rarer "inquisitionist" for someone who conducts harsh or intrusive questioning, whereas "inquisitionist" more specifically highlights a supporter of an ecclesiastical Inquisition or its methods.

• Rhymes for inquisitionist

• Nearby Words

inquiringly
inquiry
inquisition
inquisitionist
inquisitive
inquisitively
inquisitiveness

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Inquisitionist. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/inquisitionist
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