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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 Under that setup, Ascheim became WarnerMedia’s senior rep in its relationship with Rowling and her representatives, and exploratory conversations for a Max series got underway. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026 At this stage, the project remains exploratory, and the available information does not establish an economic deposit or future source of supply. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 The participating organizations have agreed to an initial 12-month exploratory phase to determine which technologies, training programs, and career pathways should be developed. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026 The next phase is fieldwork and feedback The subsurface dam project is still in the exploratory phase, and Savage emphasized that a lot of research and outreach would happen before any concrete plans could be made. — Idaho Statesman, 15 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
  • Breaking the sound barrier is only the beginning Making a passenger aircraft fly at Mach 2 is considerably more complicated than demonstrating supersonic flight with a fighter or small experimental aircraft.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Transparent footwear is an experimental style that came about in the 50s and 60s.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of experimental
Adjective
  • Santiago, Clark said, is the first person to be convicted by a jury in New York State because of the use of investigative genetic genealogy.
    — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s administration and Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming have been locked in a months-long dispute over the watchdog’s access to city records and the scope of her investigative authority.
    — Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of investigative
Adjective
  • Most people encounter crypto as a high-tech, speculative asset class.
    — Wade Preston, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The primary barrier has been the cumulative friction of subpar user experiences, misdirected marketing and an obsession with speculative trading over personal finance.
    — Jeff Mahony, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of speculative
Adjective
  • The Orland High School District 230 board unanimously approved a $198 million budget Thursday, a slight increase from the tentative budget presented last month as some fund sources were updated.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, which represents nearly all major employee unions in state government, notified rank-and-file members of the tentative understanding Thursday morning.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of tentative
Adjective
  • The Virginia Tech swimmer finished 17th in the preliminary round of the 500-yard freestyle, one place outside the 16-swimmer finals field.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The project has not yet received final approval from the National Capital Area Planning Commission, which greenlighted the site and preliminary plans at its July meeting.
    — Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of preliminary
Adjective
  • That could give the weapon a theoretical range of about 280 miles.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • In short, the theoretical possibility of trans women playing in the WNBA, while of substantial curiosity to some, doesn’t present an actual controversy at this time.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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