Interrogate suspects vigorously vs Interview

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Interrogate suspects vigorously

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Interview

Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Most common: Interview
 Interrogate suspects vigorouslyInterview
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ɪnˈtɛrəɡeɪt səsˈpɛkts ˈvɪgərəsli//🇺🇸 //ɪnˈtɛrəɡeɪt sʌsˈpɛkts ˈvɪɡərəsli//🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪntəvjuː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪntərvjuː/"]/
MeaningQuestion people to find out if they are guilty.A meeting where someone is asked questions to get a job.
ExampleThe police had to **interrogate suspects vigorously** to gather evidence.I have a job interview tomorrow at 10 AM.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A1
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsvigorously interrogate, interrogate suspects, vigorously question, interrogate a witness, interrogate someoneface-to-face, in-person, one-on-one, carry out, conduct, do, room, panel, techniques, in an/​the interview, interview about, interview between, a round of interviews, face-to-face, in-person, one-on-one, carry out, conduct, do, room, panel, techniques, in an/​the interview, interview about, interview between, a round of interviews, face-to-face, in-person, one-on-one, carry out, conduct, do, room, panel, techniques, in an/​the interview, interview about, interview between, a round of interviews
Antonyms-dismissal, rejection
Common mistakesUsing 'interrogate' without an object (e.g., 'interrogate vigorously' without specifying who)., Confusing 'interrogate' with 'interview' which has a less forceful connotation.Confusing 'interview' as a verb and a noun., Using a plural form incorrectly (e.g., 'interviews' when discussing one instance)., Not pairing the word properly with prepositions (e.g., saying 'interview for a job' instead of 'interview with a company').
Usage notesThis phrase is typically used in law enforcement contexts. It may sound too aggressive if used casually.Use 'interview' in job contexts or when talking about a conversation where questions are asked. Avoid using it in casual situations not related to job hiring.

See it in real clips

Interrogate suspects vigorously

Frequently asked questions: Interrogate suspects vigorously vs Interview

What's the difference between Interrogate suspects vigorously and Interview?

Interrogate suspects vigorously: Question people to find out if they are guilty. Interview: A meeting where someone is asked questions to get a job.

Which is more common: Interrogate suspects vigorously and Interview?

Interview is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Interrogate suspects vigorously: The police had to **interrogate suspects vigorously** to gather evidence. Interview: I have a job interview tomorrow at 10 AM.

Can I use Interrogate suspects vigorously and Interview interchangeably?

Not always. Interrogate suspects vigorously and Interview are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons