cross-examine
Probe a witness
Cross-examine is to question someone formally and rigorously, especially a witness in a legal proceeding who has already been questioned by the opposing side.
The goal is typically to challenge testimony, expose inconsistencies, or undermine credibility.
Outside courtrooms, cross-examine describes any intense, detailed questioning: My parents cross-examined me about where I'd been all night.
The noun cross-examination refers to this process.
Request for information
- grillCooking surface over fire
- probeThorough examination or tool
- challengeTest of ability
- confrontFace squarely, address directly
press · query · scrutinize · drill · badger · hound · corner · pursue
Sworn statement as evidence
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- witnessOne who attests
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
courtroom · attorney · evidence · impeach · deposition · sustained · overruled · admissible
Accurate and sincere
- reliableConsistently performing as expected
- believableAble to convince
- trustworthyWorthy of confidence
- honestFree from deception
accurate · consistent · contradictory · doubtful · suspicious · questionable · impeach · discredit
question
Request for information
confront · press · query · scrutinize · drill · badger · hound · corner · pursue · demand
testimony
Sworn statement as evidence
- objectionExpression of disapproval
- witnessOne who attests
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defense · courtroom · attorney · evidence · impeach · deposition · sustained · overruled · admissible · perjury
truthful
Accurate and sincere
- reliableConsistently performing as expected
- believableAble to convince
- trustworthyWorthy of confidence
honest · accurate · consistent · contradictory · doubtful · suspicious · questionable · impeach · discredit · undermine
analyze
Study by breaking down
- investigateSeek facts systematically
- inspectStudy closely for flaws
- reviewCritical written assessment
dissect · evaluate · check · audit · assess · explore · study · verify · test · fact-check
- courtroomjudge, jury, oath taking, lawyer, bench
- courtroom expressionsobjection, sustained, overruled, all rise, guilty
- investigatinginvestigate, inspect, probe, search, seek
- question or challengedoubt, question, challenge, dispute, contest
- court proceedingstrial, arraignment, verdict, hearing, testimony
- courtroom termsoath, witness, judge, trial, jury
cross-examinerespond
Give a reply
answer · testify · give testimony · take the stand · reply
cross-examineaccept at face value
Believe without verification
take on faith · rubber-stamp · chat · converse · affirm
cross, examine, examined, examiner, examining, examines, reexamine, unexamined, reexamined