exploratory

adjective

Definition of exploratorynext
as in experimental
done or created to find something or to learn more about something exploratory drilling for oil

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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 exploratory The ships also have a cavernous hangar housing exploratory craft like kayaks, special ops boats, and even submarines. — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 12 Aug. 2026 The conversations were exploratory, and no decision was made, the source added. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 To date, hundreds of exploratory wells have been drilled across the globe. — IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2026 Those kinds of problem-solving and listening skills took Brian Fork on a similarly exploratory career path. — Douglas A. Hicks, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exploratory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploratory
  1. experimental
  2. investigative
  3. speculative
  4. tentative
  5. preliminary
  6. theoretical
Adjective
  • Crucially, the experiment revealed that while design software is free, the significant expense and bottleneck now lie in the physical synthesis and experimental validation of proteins, underscoring the scarcity of wet-lab capacity.
    — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The tome is a more experimental offering than traditional fiction, and relies heavily on the conflicting narration from commenters and Agnes’ internal dialogue.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of experimental
Adjective
  • While investigators have been able to use DNA analysis and traditional investigative work to identify three of the other sets of remains found in 2022, the identity of the Hemenway Harbor homicide victim has proven far more elusive.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The film, which will be given a theatrical and digital release, blends archival footage, firsthand interviews, and investigative storytelling.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of investigative
Adjective
  • Lately, that kind of existential threat — where once-vanquished viruses make a devastating comeback — is no longer speculative, nor hard to imagine.
    — Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Overall, speculative positions against the yen, however, have declined.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of speculative
Adjective
  • That revelation instantly jeopardizes Lucky’s tentative deal with FBI Agent Billie Rand (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor).
    — Max Gao, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Five months after resigning, Kent is continuing to press his case publicly while taking tentative steps to organize politically.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of tentative
Adjective
  • An inmate ran out of a preliminary hearing at the Fairfield Courthouse Tuesday afternoon, knocking down a deputy district attorney and making it out of the courtroom before he was quickly apprehended, the Solano County Sheriff's Office said.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The filings come in the wake of a week-long preliminary hearing in early July aimed at determining whether there is enough probable cause to send the case to trial.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of preliminary
Adjective
  • There is a theoretical possibility that a team taking too long over five simultaneous substitutions could be forced to play with six for a while, which could be fun.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Errors reach combat The risks are no longer purely theoretical.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of theoretical

Browse Nearby Words

explorations
exploratory
explore
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Cite this Entry

“Exploratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploratory. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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