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
In positioning Mollestad as an exploratory team player, its six tracks reveal her chops well beyond that of a showboating virtuoso.
—
Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
This time, though, the idea isn't just brief contact and exploratory surveys, but a sustained lunar presence, and the agency recently announced a long-term roadmap for building a $20 billion permanent lunar base.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Jassy also recognized that his brand of exploratory thinking is easier said than done for today’s young workers.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Minnesota regulators approved the company’s exploratory plans in December.
—Todd Richmond, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exploratory
Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
This time, though, the idea isn't just brief contact and exploratory surveys, but a sustained lunar presence, and the agency recently announced a long-term roadmap for building a $20 billion permanent lunar base.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Jassy also recognized that his brand of exploratory thinking is easier said than done for today’s young workers.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Minnesota regulators approved the company’s exploratory plans in December.
—Todd Richmond, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exploratory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exploratory
Adjective
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Instead, this latest effort represents the incremental progress essential to experimental science, where errors and uncertainties are identified and quantified, and future generations of scientists can build upon it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 May 2026
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The search was prompted by soil vapor sampling, an experimental technology that detected volatile organic compounds potentially associated with decomposing human remains — though the method remains unproven in criminal investigations.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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The new release consists of 161 files, most of which are PDFs recounting investigative reports and eyewitness testimonials (including from a few Apollo astronauts, who saw some strange things near the moon).—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
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Even Gawker’s star investigative reporter Adrian Chen, whose exposé of the dark web marketplace Silk Road was a huge scoop, could generate laughs.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Like other collectible alternative assets, such as fine art, rare watches and classic cars, cask investing is a high-risk, speculative, long-term bet on a largely unregulated, illiquid asset.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
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Plans by Becknell are to build the speculative structure, to be called Northwind North Business Park, and utilize it for light industrial businesses to rent.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Ahead of the weekend, Deadline reported the two sides had reached a tentative deal after the staff union spent nearly three months on the picket line.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
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The Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU) announced on Saturday that 89 percent of participating members voted to greenlight a tentative first contract deal, which concludes the union’s 82-day work stoppage.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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During a preliminary hearing, prosecutors presented DNA evidence matching blood found on the rim of Alnaji’s megaphone to Kessler.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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His preliminary hearing readiness has been set for May 13, and the preliminary hearing will follow on July 22, said officials from the district attorney’s office.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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These proposals rely heavily on theoretical risk models, selective interpretation of data and precautionary assumptions rather than demonstrated real-world patterns of harm sufficient to justify criminalization.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
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This entry introduces the concept of media dependency through one of the most influential theories, the media dependency system model, and its relation to other theoretical frameworks such as uses and gratifications theory and the power dependency model.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exploratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exploratory. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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