under a/the microscope
idiom
: in a state of being watched very closely
Celebrities can find it difficult (to be) living under the microscope.
The business has recently been put under the microscope by federal investigators.
Examples of under a/the microscope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Prostate biopsy: Your doctor may collect small tissue samples from your prostate gland and look at them under a microscope for cancer cells.
—
Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 21 Aug. 2025
But much like Democrats put Trump under a microscope, these cases look like the opposition returning the favor.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The team confirmed the miniature creature’s identity by looking at it under a microscope before releasing it back into the forest.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025
Serfontein fired the gun into a water tank and compared the collected casings to the test casings under a microscope to reach the opinion.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for under a/the microscope
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.
Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 21 Aug. 2025
But much like Democrats put Trump under a microscope, these cases look like the opposition returning the favor.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The team confirmed the miniature creature’s identity by looking at it under a microscope before releasing it back into the forest.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025
Serfontein fired the gun into a water tank and compared the collected casings to the test casings under a microscope to reach the opinion.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for under a/the microscope
Cite this Entry
“Under a/the microscope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20a%2Fthe%20microscope. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share