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
  • These statements show a total disregard for confidentiality, basic investigative standards and the seriousness of ethics violations.
    — Collin Corbett, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • On Thursday, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office investigative and tactical teams served a high-risk search warrant at a residence in Salinas and took the suspect into custody.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of investigative
Adjective
  • Unitree’s recent slump has raised concerns about how Beijing may boost emerging strategic sectors without stoking a speculative frenzy.
    — Anniek Bao,Elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The premise places the film inside a debate that has moved rapidly from speculative fiction into everyday working life, but Lien’s approach leans away from techno-thriller territory.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 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
  • The 70% preliminary expectation wildly exceeded projections for fiscal 2028 revenue of roughly $570 billion, or 44% growth from fiscal 2027 (the current year).
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Two small cedar trees were found snapped at the trunk, and that’s the extent of the storm damage, investigators said in a preliminary report.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of preliminary
Adjective
  • David Sloan is a theoretical physicist at Lancaster University and the Chief Scientific Officer of the Foundational Questions Institute.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Far from being a theoretical threat, at least one active attack is already exploiting the mixup.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 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 29 Aug. 2026.

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