scrutinize

verb

scru·​ti·​nize ˈskrü-tə-ˌnīz 

scrutinized; scrutinizing

transitive verb

: to examine closely and minutely

intransitive verb

: to make a scrutiny

scrutinizer noun

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Scrutinize This Word's Etymology

Scrutinize the history of scrutinize far back enough and you wind up sifting through trash: the word comes from Latin scrutari, which means "to search, to examine," and scrutari likely comes from scruta, meaning "trash." The etymology evokes one who searches through trash for anything of value. The noun scrutiny preceded scrutinize in English, and in its earliest 15th century use referred to a formal vote, and later to an official examination of votes. Scrutinize was established in the 17th century with its familiar "to examine closely" meaning, but retained reference to voting with the specific meaning "to examine votes" at least into the 18th century. (Votes are still commonly said to be scrutinized in the general sense of the word.) And while the term scrutineer can be a general term referring to someone who examines something, it is also sometimes used in British English specifically as a term for someone who takes or counts votes.

Synonyms of scrutinize

• examine
• review
• scan
• inspect
• survey

Choose the Right Synonym for scrutinize

scrutinize, scan, inspect, examine mean to look at or over.

scrutinize stresses close attention to minute detail.

scrutinized the hospital bill

scan implies a surveying from point to point often suggesting a cursory overall observation.

scanned the wine list

inspect implies scrutinizing for errors or defects.

inspected my credentials

examine suggests a scrutiny in order to determine the nature, condition, or quality of a thing.

examined the specimens

Examples of scrutinize in a Sentence

I closely scrutinized my opponent's every move.

Her performance was carefully scrutinized by her employer.

Recent Examples on the Web

With Shell doubling down on oil and LNG at a time when many investors are scrutinizing the pace of the energy transition, Gorman has had to explain and defend its strategy to the market. —Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 June 2026

The lawsuit alleges that the captain has targeted and scrutinized Crawford on a near constant basis. —Ben Wheeler june 8, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026

And the Oval Office now practically drips in gold, while an adjoining study, once used by Franklin Roosevelt to scrutinize war maps and Lyndon Johnson to monitor the space race, was converted into the president’s personal swag shop. —Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

Trump, who bestowed his coveted endorsement to Hilton over Sheriff Chad Bianco, has scrutinized the slow-moving counting. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 7 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for scrutinize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

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Kids Definition

scrutinize

verb

scru·​ti·​nize ˈskrüt-ᵊn-ˌīz 

scrutinized; scrutinizing

: to examine very closely : inspect