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 Fortunately for San Francisco, it was reported during the game's broadcast that Winters had been examined in the locker room and then returned to the field. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 The congressional investigation has also examined allegations of information suppression between intelligence agencies and between the executive branch and Congress. Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025 Raj Roy, the vice president of Distribution Operations at SoCal Edison, said the utility company carefully examines weather conditions to come to decisions about shutting off power. Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025 Researchers came to this conclusion by examining health records for more than 600,000 Korean adults and almost 1,200 American adults who had one of these cardiovascular issues. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for examine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for examine
Verb
  • Also starring Denis O'Hare, Zachary Quinto, Sandra Bernhard, Isaac Powell, and Patti LuPone, NYC interrogates many thematic threads, but none more so than the illusion of control.
    James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
  • His attorneys pointed out that Dassey had a low IQ bordering on intellectual disability, and questioned law enforcement's interrogation tactics — including allowing the teen to be interrogated without a parent or attorney present.
    Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • According to him, robots now tie rebar, weld steel (as demonstrated in the Ya Bridge project), and inspect bridges using infrared, radar, and acoustic sensors.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Schwinn Koen Balance Bike Few toys get kids exercising and exploring the natural world like a bicycle does.
    Anja Webb, Parents, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The study aims to explore the relationship between menopause and exercise, with the goal of understanding what type(s) and duration of exercise may alleviate the common symptoms of menopause.
    Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Canales’ trust in Young growing A week after Dave Canales called a couple of running plays on third-and-long — prompting a veteran coach with another team to question Canales’ faith in his quarterback — Canales was more aggressive with his play calling with the game on the line.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Once Gein's crimes came to light, he was questioned about a number of additional disappearances in the region.
    JR Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were expected to be the lead agencies investigating the cause of the crash, though FAA and NTSB representatives were not immediately available for comment due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Authorities in Maine are investigating a claim that hundreds of blank ballots for this year's November election were delivered to a woman as part of her Amazon order.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There are many phone apps that shoppers can use in the grocery store to scan product barcodes and gauge how healthy food items are, like Yuka, Bobby Approved and Fooducate.
    Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In seconds, anyone in the room can join the fun simply by scanning a QR code.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The initial, pre-construction assessment, published in 2019, surveyed 435 adults living in the neighborhoods impacted by the project, representing 1,629 household members of all ages.
    Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • This includes everything from surveying and certifying nursing homes to assisting Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries and overseeing contracts or extra payments to rural ambulance providers.
    Simon F. Haeder, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Examine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/examine. Accessed 9 Oct. 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!