cross examine
Probe a witness
Cross-examine is to question someone formally, especially a witness in court who has already been questioned by the opposing side.
The goal is to challenge testimony, expose inconsistencies, or undermine credibility: The defense attorney cross-examined the witness for three hours.
Outside legal contexts, it means to question someone closely and skeptically: My parents cross-examined me about where I'd been.
Question formally and persistently
- questionRequest for information
- witnessOne who attests
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- objectionExpression of disapproval
sustained · overruled · sidebar · leading questions · hostile witness · redirect · rebuttal · perjury
Harm another's reputation
- contradictDispute a statement
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
motive · undermine · challenge · expose · refute · catch · trip up · unravel
Inspect with close attention
- probeThorough examination or tool
- adversarialCharacterized by conflict
- leading questionsInquiries suggesting expected answers
- trapDevice for catching animals
pin down · corner · pressure · preparation · theory · narrative · sequence · control
interrogate
Question formally and persistently
objection · sustained · overruled · sidebar · leading questions · hostile witness · redirect · rebuttal · perjury · credibility
discredit
Harm another's reputation
- contradictDispute a statement
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
bias · motive · undermine · challenge · expose · refute · catch · trip up · unravel · reliability
scrutinize
Inspect with close attention
- probeThorough examination or tool
- adversarialCharacterized by conflict
- leading questionsInquiries suggesting expected answers
trap · pin down · corner · pressure · preparation · theory · narrative · sequence · control · pacing
- crime investigationdetective, whodunit, investigation, detectives, investigator
cross examineaccept at face value
Believe without verification
take on faith · rubber stamp · skim over · gloss over · ignore
cross, examine, crosses, crossed, crossing, crosser, crossings, examines, examined