inquisitor

/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtər/
noun
  1. A person who asks many questions, often in a harsh or persistent way.
    • The journalist acted like an inquisitor, pressing the politician for answers.
    • My little brother is a natural inquisitor, always asking 'why' about everything.
    • The teacher became an inquisitor during the exam review, grilling students on every detail.
  2. A historical official who investigated and punished people for religious crimes, especially during the Spanish Inquisition.
    • The inquisitor condemned the accused heretic to a public trial.
    • In medieval Spain, an inquisitor had the power to arrest and question anyone suspected of heresy.
    • The novel's villain was a cruel inquisitor who tortured prisoners for confessions.