inquisition
n. countablen. a long period of difficult or unfair questioning. It often feels like the person asking the questions is trying to find a reason to punish you.
n. a period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation. Often carries a pejorative connotation of being harsh, intrusive, or biased.
I felt like I was facing an inquisition after arriving home late.
The journalist's interview turned into a hostile inquisition as she pressed the politician for details on the missing funds.
While the historical Spanish Inquisition sought to enforce religious orthodoxy, the modern metaphorical use describes any aggressive interrogation that disregards the subject's right to privacy or defense.
When capitalized as 'the Inquisition', it refers specifically to the historical Roman Catholic tribunal.