Third-degreed means to be interrogated or questioned harshly. There are several synonyms that can be used to convey a similar meaning. Faced with the heat, drilled, or grilled are some of the words that can be used in place of third-degreed. These words all imply a high level of scrutiny or questioning, often to get at the truth or to extract information. Other synonyms include cross-examined, investigated and probed. Whether in law enforcement, journalism, or other fields, intense questioning can be a powerful tool to get to the heart of a matter and uncover vital information.