Synonyms of scour

scour

verb

as in to search

to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something

the police scoured the city for the Typhoid Mary of this latest epidemic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• search
• find
• scan
• locate
• comb
• explore
• examine
• investigate
• rake
• dredge
• survey
• rummage
• ransack
• inspect
• discover
• rifle
• hunt (through)
• dig (through)
• sort (through)
• troll
• scrutinize
• ascertain
• determine
• detect
• review
• learn
• check (out)
• peruse
• find out
• browse
• audit
• track (down)
• run down
• probe
• get
• prospect
• study
• hit (on or upon)
• descry
• poke (around)
• pat down
• shake down
• glance (over)
• frisk
• ferret (out)
• snoop
• look over
• scare up
• grub (about)
• skirmish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hide
• lose
• abandon
• ignore
• neglect

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of scour

McGrath recommends scouring thrift stores, garage sales, and Facebook Marketplace for old umbrellas as well! — The Spruce, 27 July 2026

The Lauensteins, who spent years scouring architectural salvage sites for items including wrought iron, hardware, lighting and doors to decorate their home, largely stewarded the transformation, with occasional guidance from interior designers. — R. Daniel Foster, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Historian Casey Pallister argues that the brief but intense era of the bone hunters, those who scoured the land for the bones, should be better known. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 20 July 2026

If healthy, Dach remains a candidate to fill a second-line role for the Canadiens in training camp, along with Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen, though Montreal continues to scour the trade market looking for a top-six addition. — Arpon Basu, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!