scrutiny
noun
scru·ti·ny
ˈskrü-tə-nē 
ˈskrüt-nē
plural scrutinies
1
: a searching study, inquiry, or inspection : examination
2
: a searching look
3
: close watch : surveillance
Examples of scrutiny in a Sentence
the close scrutiny of data
I'd never faced that kind of scrutiny before.
Because of their past crimes, everything they do now will be subject to scrutiny.
Her opinion is based on a careful scrutiny of the text.
Recent Examples on the Web
The calls for further investigation into the IEDC followed extensive media scrutiny of the agency in 2025, including an investigation from IndyStar that revealed a trio of IEDC insiders benefited from $180 million worth of no-bid contracts.
—
Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
From a bungled email prematurely announcing another massive round of layoffs to scrutiny around the company’s $75 million investment in a documentary about the first lady, Amazon heads into its quarterly earnings report next week surrounded by a deafening level of outside noise.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
While he was credited with building a roster that finished with winning records in three of his four seasons as general manager, Adofo-Mensah's draft results have faced scrutiny at times.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Fund scrutiny Kappel, the campaign finance lawyer, said both parties commonly use such funds to raise general election money during primaries, but called Cruz’s pitch misleading.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrutiny
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Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
From a bungled email prematurely announcing another massive round of layoffs to scrutiny around the company’s $75 million investment in a documentary about the first lady, Amazon heads into its quarterly earnings report next week surrounded by a deafening level of outside noise.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
While he was credited with building a roster that finished with winning records in three of his four seasons as general manager, Adofo-Mensah's draft results have faced scrutiny at times.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Fund scrutiny Kappel, the campaign finance lawyer, said both parties commonly use such funds to raise general election money during primaries, but called Cruz’s pitch misleading.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrutiny
Cite this Entry
“Scrutiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrutiny. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scrutiny
noun
scru·ti·ny
ˈskrüt-ᵊn-ē
ˈskrüt-nē
plural scrutinies
: a close inspection : examination
Legal Definition
scrutiny
noun
scru·ti·ny
ˈskrüt-ᵊn-ē
plural scrutinies
: searching study or inquiry
specifically
: judicial investigation of the constitutionality of a statutory classification of persons under the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution see also intermediate sense 2, strict scrutiny compare rational basis test
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