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 upside for all involved: terms in a CBA that primarily relate to wages, hours and other working conditions, including interplay with NIL, would be exempt from antitrust scrutiny through the non-statutory labor exemption (which reflects a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions).
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2025
When Adobe’s $20 billion deal for smaller, scrappier rival Figma collapsed in 2023 under global antitrust scrutiny, investors set to reap billions complained loudly about Biden’s enforcers.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Other universities are likely to come under similar scrutiny as the government seeks to gain leverage in the higher education sector.
—Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
During their two years together, Spears and Federline were under near-constant tabloid scrutiny.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrutiny
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Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2025
When Adobe’s $20 billion deal for smaller, scrappier rival Figma collapsed in 2023 under global antitrust scrutiny, investors set to reap billions complained loudly about Biden’s enforcers.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Other universities are likely to come under similar scrutiny as the government seeks to gain leverage in the higher education sector.
—Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
During their two years together, Spears and Federline were under near-constant tabloid scrutiny.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scrutiny
Cite this Entry
“Scrutiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrutiny. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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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