INVESTIGATIVE Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

investigative

adjective

Definition of investigative

as in exploratory

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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 investigative These statements show a total disregard for confidentiality, basic investigative standards and the seriousness of ethics violations. — Collin Corbett, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 On Thursday, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office investigative and tactical teams served a high-risk search warrant at a residence in Salinas and took the suspect into custody. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026 The scandal also comes as the country prepares for a restructuring of its criminal justice system that will give police greater authority because prosecutors will be stripped of their investigative powers. — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Gonzalez said investigative procedures do not change because a suspect is a juvenile and that detectives complete their investigations and submit cases to the appropriate prosecutor for consideration. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 Students who had completed Ramapo’s investigative genetic genealogy certificate program volunteered to research the case and identified Krusely as a candidate in December 2025, according to the college. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Sanft questioned Long about other tips in the case and the history of the department’s investigative file, seeking to cast doubt on the thoroughness of the police work. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026 The people of Florida would still be in the dark but for a leak of the report to CBS Miami investigative reporter Jim DeFede, who posted the 19-page report on the station’s website. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 According to investigative summaries from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, surveillance footage captured the 29-year-old pacing on the sidewalk and monitoring the victims’ vehicle before pulling a handgun and shooting them. — Evonne Andris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigative

Adjective

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

Definition of exploratory

Adjective

But in 2018 Trump signed the Right to Try Act, which allows terminally ill patients to access certain experimental drugs and immunotherapy treatments that have not received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Hubble and Webb both have coronagraphs, but Roman’s experimental instrument is 100 to 1,000 times better than any built before, said Bertrand Mennesson, Roman deputy project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of experimental

Adjective

These youngest children typically have major language or developmental delays that are easier for parents and doctors to spot.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
With four years of full roster control, the Bills may not want to risk a young player who has shown real potential in an NFL hungry for developmental talent.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of developmental

Adjective

Legal professionals must carefully weigh the probative value against potential juror backlash, educate the jury on the evidence's legitimacy, and consider whether to integrate AI chats cautiously or even forgo them entirely.

— Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Our system already demands that evidence be relevant and probative.

— Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026

Definition of probative

Adjective

The 70% preliminary expectation wildly exceeded projections for fiscal 2028 revenue of roughly $570 billion, or 44% growth from fiscal 2027 (the current year).

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Two small cedar trees were found snapped at the trunk, and that’s the extent of the storm damage, investigators said in a preliminary report.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of preliminary

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“Investigative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigative. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of investigative

adjective

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