Synonym Chooser

How is the word examine different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of examine are inspect, scan, and scrutinize. While all these words mean "to look at or over," examine suggests a scrutiny in order to determine the nature, condition, or quality of a thing.

examined the specimens

When would inspect be a good substitute for examine?

The words inspect and examine can be used in similar contexts, but inspect implies scrutinizing for errors or defects.

inspected my credentials

In what contexts can scan take the place of examine?

The meanings of scan and examine largely overlap; however, scan implies a surveying from point to point often suggesting a cursory overall observation.

scanned the wine list

When is scrutinize a more appropriate choice than examine?

Although the words scrutinize and examine have much in common, scrutinize stresses close attention to minute detail.

scrutinized the hospital bill

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of examine Arden called that virtually unheard of in his 40 years of examining dead bodies and said Marcus told him in a conversation that the possibility was remote. CBS News, 8 May 2025 In the warehouse, the tower will be tested and examined by fire investigators with Los Angeles County Fire, Southern California Edison officials and experts hired by a growing list of plaintiffs who have since sued the utility company for allegedly sparking the fire. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025 Geologists will examine high-resolution maps of the site to determine where exactly the eruption occurred, while chemists study how the vent’s hydrothermal fluids changed before and after the eruption and biologists trace how life returns to the area. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025 One significant section of the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study will examine the best long-term solutions to the saltwater intrusion phenomenon. Kati Weis, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for examine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for examine
Verb
  • From exhibitions interrogating race and class to public programs grappling with climate change and surveillance, Somerset House became a magnet for the conversations audiences crave but most institutions are too afraid to address. Stand for something.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • The Fallout series is set in 2296, though the story routinely returns to the year 2077, interrogating how corporate interests helped facilitate the nuclear attacks that decimated the world.
    EW.com, EW.com, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2025
  • Earlier this month, the North Korean leader supervised a missile test, inspected tank and munitions plants, and made a rare stop at the Russian embassy in Pyongyang to reaffirm the nation's alliance with Moscow.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • The idea of using this movement as a background to explore these themes, using the language of a musical film started to take shape.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 May 2025
  • Research exploring this topic generally focuses on younger adolescents, who are less likely to be allowed to try alcohol by their parents, but this practice becomes more common as adolescents get older.
    Bernard Pereda, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Some justices question why Trump admin did not seek direct ruling on birthright citizenship Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan asked why the Trump administration on Thursday sought to block nationwide injunctions rather than resolve whether a birthright citizenship order is constitutional.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • While the total square footage of office space owned and leased by the Department of General Services has increased, many state workers question whether there are enough desks for all their colleagues to be in offices in July.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • For the study, published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, scientists reviewed more than a dozen previous papers, including data on nearly 6,000 distance runners.
    Brian Mastroianni, Health, 9 May 2025
  • The agency also conducted two other safety reports on the Philadelphia move in 2021, related to airspace realignment and training waivers, which CNN has not reviewed.
    Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • The Butte County District Attorney’s Office, the county’s Officer Involved Shooting Protocol Team and the state Department of Justice were investigating the incident.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 10 May 2025
  • The agency investigated once but found the claims to be unsubstantiated, according to a state child welfare report cited by the outlet.
    Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Among the photos in the carousel was a snap of a family outing to Disneyland, posing by the tree at Christmas, and Kourtney at a baby scan before welcoming their son, Rocky Thirteen.
    Latoya Gayle, People.com, 12 May 2025
  • Stuart-Smith’s team would digitally scan the tree before casting it as a full-size bronze sculpture.
    Rosa Rahimi, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • The Baltimore Sun surveyed all the Derby horses from 2022 to 2025 and found that only 10 of the 67 horses ran in both the Derby and Preakness.
    John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
  • The latest poll, which surveyed 1,163 U.S. adults nationwide, had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
    Jason Lange, USA Today, 15 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Examine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/examine. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on examine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!