as in exploratory
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Recent Examples of investigative
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has advanced his threats to take enforcement action against the NFL over its Rooney Rule, issuing the league an investigative subpoena on Wednesday.
—
Andrea Hsu, NPR, 15 May 2026
The subpoena had demanded Social Security numbers, birth dates, and medical records for all patients who received gender-affirming care in five years—revealing the government’s expansive investigative scope.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Friduss and her mother were both suffering from hypothermia when investigators pulled them out, according to a new investigative report released by the sheriff’s office Wednesday.
—Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Aarne Heikkila Aarne Heikkila is a senior investigative producer with the NBC News Investigative Unit.
—Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Nanos recalled police's early investigative efforts in his interview with People.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 May 2026
But the investigative process can take months or years.
—Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026
Dela Rosa evaded arrest by local investigative unit officers earlier this week.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Detroit first approved a $7 million contract in 2022 using general fund dollars for audio surveillance and investigative purposes.
—Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Andrea Hsu, NPR, 15 May 2026
The subpoena had demanded Social Security numbers, birth dates, and medical records for all patients who received gender-affirming care in five years—revealing the government’s expansive investigative scope.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Friduss and her mother were both suffering from hypothermia when investigators pulled them out, according to a new investigative report released by the sheriff’s office Wednesday.
—Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Aarne Heikkila Aarne Heikkila is a senior investigative producer with the NBC News Investigative Unit.
—Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Nanos recalled police's early investigative efforts in his interview with People.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 May 2026
But the investigative process can take months or years.
—Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026
Dela Rosa evaded arrest by local investigative unit officers earlier this week.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Detroit first approved a $7 million contract in 2022 using general fund dollars for audio surveillance and investigative purposes.
—Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigative
Adjective
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In recent years, Amazon’s assumption of the Thursday Night Football package and exploratory nibbles from the likes of YouTube have poured billions of bonus bucks into the league’s coffers.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
11 May 2026
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The Vikings brought free-agent receiver Jauan Jennings in for some exploratory sessions, and that signing remains a possibility.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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As of December, Collins was getting experimental treatment in Singapore.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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Her cancer returned in late March, after showing no growth on the experimental daraxonrasib pill for 13 months.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Kate Martin made her Sparks debut as a developmental player with Atkins and Sania Feagin (lower left leg) unavailable and picked up one rebound in six minutes.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
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Former coaches and players have repeatedly pointed to this system as a developmental weakness.—
Clemente Lisi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Our system already demands that evidence be relevant and probative.—
Ivan J. Bates,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
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This request is denied since these holes in the factual record, where defendants hold the pertinent backup evidence—should such evidence exist—are actually probative in assessing the reliability and accuracy, or lack thereof, of other representations by defendants about their actions more broadly.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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According to a preliminary investigation, four suspects wearing hoodies and gloves used hammers to smash a display case and stole jewelry.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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Outside of a track and field preliminary meet at Yorba Linda High on Saturday, an anti-transgender advocacy group called Save Girls’ Sports organized a protest against California policies that allow transgender athletes to compete based on their gender identity.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Investigative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigative. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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