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

More than 900 participants signed up for last year’s Python Challenge, and potentially as many are currently scouring for snakes amid the 2026 competition. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 July 2026

Wildfires have been scouring their way across northern Canada this week, with at least 54 fires active in the country, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 15 July 2026

In the following weeks and months, hundreds of volunteers have searched for Amy, from putting up flyers to scouring the surrounding area. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Sprinkle more baking soda on the scouring pad or brush if desired. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 July 2026

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