exploratory

adjective

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

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 No efforts have ever progressed beyond the exploratory stage. — Stefanie Dazio, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 The pair made an exploratory trip to Korea around this time last year to meet people in the local industry and ask what role Gold House could play. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 The material comes together in five exploratory tracks that manage to find a certain stillness in between clear phases of upheaval. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026 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 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
  • In experimental tests described by the company, the approach completed one task in just under 16 minutes, compared with more than 29 minutes using a conventional approach.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The album’s experimental bent is also what keeps the music from slipping into parody or, even worse, po-faced sincerity.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of experimental
Adjective
  • Such killings often silence voices that threaten or interfere with cartel profits, said Miguel Meza, a researcher at the investigative organization Narcopoliticos.
    — Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The newspaper, once edited by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov, has long been seen as a beacon of Russian investigative reporting.
    — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of investigative
Adjective
  • Described as a speculative drama, the film moves between the traditional culture of the high Himalayas and a modern world shaped by technology.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike the speculative internet startups that collapsed during the dot-com bust in 2000, many of today's leading technology companies have established businesses and genuine demand for their products.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of speculative
Adjective
  • That’s all to say that DoorDash’s current experience with agentic ordering may be a bit like Pizza Hut’s first tentative online ordering experiments in 1994.
    — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The independent project has yet to secure production financing and is seeking backers and co-producers in Sharjah and elsewhere in the region, with a tentative 2027 shoot dependent on funding.
    — Essie Assibu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of tentative
Adjective
  • The release of preliminary financial results was likely tied to Kimberly-Clark's efforts to close its blockbuster acquisition of Tylenol maker Kenvue , which is supposed to close by year-end.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026
  • What’s Driving The Increase According to KFF’s analysis of preliminary rate filings, insurers are requesting a median 14% premium increase in the small group market.
    — Glynn Frechette, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of preliminary
Adjective
  • This development bridges the understanding between theoretical nanoparticle control and practical application.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Instead, much of the ISM appears to be unstable — a finding that directly contradicts the leading theoretical models taught in textbooks.
    — Perri Thaler, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of theoretical

Browse Nearby Words

explorations
exploratory
explore
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exploratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploratory. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fulsome

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All