as in experimental
done or created to find something or to learn more about something
exploratory drilling for oil
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Recent Examples of exploratory
The largest tech companies, such as Google, can fund exploratory research but without the same breadth of subjects or tolerance for failure—and these giants are the exception, not the norm.
—
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025
And as four-fifths of CEOs reported apologizing for Trump’s behavior to their international counterparts, some of those same longtime foreign trade partners are having exploratory conversations with China to expand commercial ties.
—Time, 10 Apr. 2025
Image The Metals Company, which is publicly traded, has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on exploratory work in the Pacific Ocean, in an area known as the Clarion Clipperton Zone, a remote spot between Mexico and Hawaii.
—Eric Lipton, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Pixar drops a big hint The galactic themed indoor launched roller coasters will send riders on an exploratory mission into the uncharted Lego Galaxy in custom Lego spacecraft, according to the backstory for the ride.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exploratory
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025
And as four-fifths of CEOs reported apologizing for Trump’s behavior to their international counterparts, some of those same longtime foreign trade partners are having exploratory conversations with China to expand commercial ties.
—Time, 10 Apr. 2025
Image The Metals Company, which is publicly traded, has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on exploratory work in the Pacific Ocean, in an area known as the Clarion Clipperton Zone, a remote spot between Mexico and Hawaii.
—Eric Lipton, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Pixar drops a big hint The galactic themed indoor launched roller coasters will send riders on an exploratory mission into the uncharted Lego Galaxy in custom Lego spacecraft, according to the backstory for the ride.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exploratory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploratory
Adjective
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If so, Ian could qualify for a new experimental trial.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
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An integrative medicine doctor put me on a lot of experimental treatments for Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacteria, despite not showing any symptoms for the condition aside from my swollen knee.—
Suzy Katz,
Health,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Biden's attorney jumped in to clarify that Hur's team had asked a speculative question that did not reflect Biden's initial answer.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
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Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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The company has announced tentative launch schedules before, only to be thwarted by technical issues, regulatory hangups, or bad weather.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 May 2025
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The ceasefire, mediated by Oman, has secured a tentative end to attacks on American ships in the Red Sea, but details are slim on the concessions made by both sides.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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That preliminary round of experimentation expanded into a larger investigation of how fungi can help heal soil after wildfire, with sites from southern Oregon all the way down to Southern California.—
Lauren Oster,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
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The competition — which featured 17 total contestants — unfolded this past weekend, with the preliminary round taking place on Saturday, May 10 and the finals on Sunday, May 11.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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But to sacrifice Negan to The Dama in theoretical perpetuity?—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
5 May 2025
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And none of us could have imagined that our theoretical models would fit the data so well.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exploratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploratory. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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