investigation

noun

Definition of investigationnext
as in inquiry
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something officials launched an extensive investigation of the plane crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 investigation The federal agency closed its civil rights investigation in January 2025, days before President Joe Biden left office. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026 An investigation linked the tire jack to a vehicle driven by Dustin Kendall, 37, of New London, police said. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026 Hur, following his investigation into Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, released a lengthy report in February 2024 that concluded no criminal charges were warranted against Biden. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026 Austin police are conducting a criminal investigation with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, as well as an administrative investigation through their internal affairs unit, police said in a news release. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 July 2026 Metro Fire officials were assisting the Rancho Cordova Police Department, which is leading the investigation into the woman’s death. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026 In an internal investigation, the school district could not substantiate that Alzubi’s posts violated district policy or state law. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026 In 2021, a Los Angeles Times investigation revealed the group had only one Black member. — Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 29 July 2026 That type of information could end up being critical to an investigation. — Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigation
  1. inquiry
  2. examination
  3. exploration
  4. study
  5. probe
  6. probing
  7. research
Noun
  • Kansas City and Independence’s health departments have not responded to inquiries as of Wednesday.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
  • Each year, the department faces lawsuits cataloging records inquiries that the LAPD failed to respond to by the 10-day or 24-day deadline.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of inquiry
Noun
  • No sentence in corporate life sounds more like the beginning of an examination, and none more dependably marks the end of one.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Among the most notable figures in this year’s report were 157 domestic abuse forensic exams conducted through the organization’s strangulation examination program, which launched in the past two years.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of examination
Noun
  • The goal of the expedition is to raise money and awareness for his nonprofit, which is dedicated to Arctic climate research, marine science and exploration.
    — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026
  • That’s on top of his regular exploration of galleries in New York, where the 25-year-old ICU nurse lives and studies.
    — Mureji Fatunde-Iloeje, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2026
Definition of exploration
Noun
  • Emerging studies on leading AI models that have been specially trained by scholars to act as virtual Commanders-in-Chief, armed with massive arsenals of atomic arms, have been alarming.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The studies looked at everything from chips and salsa to beef chili and chicken tikka masala.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Definition of study
Noun
  • City councilors also pushed forward a probe to examine Boston Police Department staffing, retirements, forced overtime, recruitment strategies and more in April.
    — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 27 July 2026
  • The groundwork laid by the rovers and other Mars orbiters, landers and probes could someday help humanity take its first steps on another planet.
    — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of probe
Noun
  • There was Wall Street Journal reporter Josh Dawsey, accepting an award for his relentless probing of the White House.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 25 July 2026
  • But neither of them seemed eager to undergo much emotional probing.
    — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of probing
Noun
  • Her research explores questions about the nature of the self, decision-making, temporal experience, philosophical methodology, causation, causal experience, time and time’s arrow, perception, mereology, constitution, and essence.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Do not let perfection delay movement or turn research into a hiding place.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of research

Browse Nearby Words

investigating
investigation
investigations
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Cite this Entry

“Investigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigation. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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