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 incident reignited scrutiny of Beverly Hills Police’s treatment of Black people amid an ongoing $500-million class-action lawsuit alleging systemic racial profiling.
—
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noem’s acquisition of new DHS aircraft—and use of a luxury jet with a bedroom—brought additional scrutiny to their relationship.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
When the scam fell apart amid regulatory and legal scrutiny late last decade, the resulting scandal rocked the nascent green energy sector, coming several years after another California firm, Solyndra, collapsed after receiving a half-billion-dollar loan guarantee from the federal government.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Assembly Bill 739 proposes heightening scrutiny of management fees by creating Civil Code 5378, requiring HOAs to email requesting members a list of management fees.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scrutiny
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noem’s acquisition of new DHS aircraft—and use of a luxury jet with a bedroom—brought additional scrutiny to their relationship.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
When the scam fell apart amid regulatory and legal scrutiny late last decade, the resulting scandal rocked the nascent green energy sector, coming several years after another California firm, Solyndra, collapsed after receiving a half-billion-dollar loan guarantee from the federal government.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Assembly Bill 739 proposes heightening scrutiny of management fees by creating Civil Code 5378, requiring HOAs to email requesting members a list of management fees.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 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 14 Mar. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
