EXPLORATORY Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

exploratory

adjective

Definition of exploratory

as in experimental

done or created to find something or to learn more about something exploratory drilling for oil

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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 exploratory That November, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources approved an exploratory drilling plan from the company on property next to it. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 The committee is not and cannot be a political committee unless the potential candidate has declared candidacy, at which point an exploratory committee can become a campaign committee. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026 Diverse and exploratory behavior gradually gave way to persistent repetition. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026 The talks are exploratory, and no decisions have been made, one of the sources told Reuters. — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exploratory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploratory

Adjective

Unlike pure experimental rigs, Mark-1 is designed as a commercially representative plant.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Kerry Washington and Gemma Chan made the case for understated elegance, while Lauryn Hill and True Whitaker embraced a more experimental streak.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of experimental

Adjective

Terrorism sentences are tougher, and counter-terrorism forces have greater investigative powers.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Under California law, the governor may offer rewards of up to $50,000 in certain unsolved cases at the request of law enforcement agencies that have exhausted investigative leads.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of investigative

Adjective

Those concerns stretch across the realities of AI’s growth today and more speculative possibilities raised by some technologists and whistle-blowers.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Yet, as in many speculative markets, sophisticated participants often have access to better information, stronger analytical tools and more advanced risk-management techniques than retail participants, giving them an informational edge.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of speculative

Adjective

Earlier this month, the CSU reached tentative agreements with three unions.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Written in Latin, the theses were relatively tentative in tone, consisting of 95 short propositions—most just a sentence or two.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of tentative

Adjective

Attendees asked engineers to provide preliminary cost estimates for street lighting running from the stadium connection north to Swepco Road.

— Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
In a statement, police said the preliminary investigation indicates that a fight broke out prior to the shooting.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of preliminary

Adjective

For now, the research work establishes a theoretical possibility under restrictive conditions, not evidence that any black hole has ever been divided into two.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Such scenarios may become more common as militaries continue to deploy a once-theoretical technology — AI-assisted or autonomous weapons, capable of making both targeting and launch decisions on their own — on real battlefields around the globe.

— Kylie Jones, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of theoretical

Browse Nearby Words

explorations

exploratory

explore

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“Exploratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploratory. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of exploratory

adjective

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