scrutiny

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noun scru·ti·ny \ ˈskrü-tə-nē , ˈskrüt-nē \

Definition of scrutiny

plural scrutinies

1 :a searching study, inquiry, or inspection :examination

2 :a searching look

3 :close watch :surveillance

See scrutiny defined for English-language learners

See scrutiny defined for kids

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 of scrutiny from the Web

Dissociation is an athletic department's way of distancing itself from or cutting ties with former coaches, players, administrators, boosters or others who may be under NCAA scrutiny or who put the university at risk.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Source: University of Louisville basketball cuts ties with former players over NCAA case," 28 Aug. 2017
Some women resorted to a new vogue in cosmetic surgery, kicking off an era of damaging self-scrutiny and obsession with weight, youthfulness and body image familiar to us today.

— linda simon, Smithsonian, "Flappers Took the Country by Storm, But Did They Ever Truly Go Away," 22 Aug. 2017
President Donald Trump’s comments after the tragic events in Charlottesville last weekend, and his defense of confederate monuments has brought on further scrutiny of their history and relevance in public spaces today.

— paula rogo, Essence.com, "Report: Majority Of Students Who Attend Public Schools Named After Confederate Leaders Are Of Color," 18 Aug. 2017
But Zinke acknowledged earlier this year that not every monument included in the report will receive the same level of scrutiny.

— jennifer yachnin, Science | AAAS, "Trump team nears decision on national monuments," 18 Aug. 2017
Even before Emmanuel Macron was elected president of France, his relationship with wife Brigitte Macron has been the object of close scrutiny and an exhausting amount of ageism due to the fact that Brigitte is 24 years older than her husband.

— andrea park, Glamour, "Brigitte Macron Addresses Age Gap Between Her and French President Emmanuel Macron," 17 Aug. 2017
Or so Foreign Policy reports: Trump Jr., at that time in the glare of media scrutiny around his meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the presidential campaign, gave the memo to his father, who gushed over it, according to sources.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "White House Officials Say a Cabal of Islamists, Marxists, and Bankers Is at War With Trump," 11 Aug. 2017
Following the controversy surrounding her distasteful Pepsi advert, Jenner has consistently found herself under even more scrutiny than usual.

— amy mackelden, Marie Claire, "Kendall Jenner Didn't Tip Her Bartender, and the Bar Just Posted Literal Proof," 5 Aug. 2017
The prison system is expected to come under further scrutiny next week in Topeka.

— hunter woodall and max londberg, kansascity, "'I've never seen anything like this' — issues at Kansas prisons alarm lawmakers, workers," 29 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scrutiny.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of scrutiny

Latin scrutinium, from scrutari to search, examine, probably from scruta trash

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1604

See Words from the same year

scrutiny Synonyms

Synonyms

audit, check, checkup, examination, going-over, look-see, review, scan, inspection, survey, view

Related Words

analysis, assay, close-up, deconstruction, dissection; exploration, investigation, probe, research, study; inquisition, interrogation; once-over, perusal; recheck, reinspection, resurvey; observation, surveillance, watch; checkout, test-drive, trial run

Near Antonyms

blink [chiefly Scottish], flash, glance, glimpse, peek, peep, sight, stime [chiefly Scottish & Irish]; oeillade, ogle; browse, scan

SCRUTINY Defined for English Language Learners

scrutiny

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noun

Definition of scrutiny for English Language Learners

: the act of carefully examining something especially in a critical way : the act of scrutinizing something

SCRUTINY Defined for Kids

scrutiny

play

noun scru·ti·ny \ ˈskrü-tə-nē , ˈskrüt-nē \

Definition of scrutiny for Students

:a close inspection

Law Dictionary

scrutiny

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noun scru·ti·ny \ ˈskrüt-ᵊn-ē \

legal Definition of scrutiny

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 2, strict scrutiny — compare rational basis test