as in investigations
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something
a congressional probe into the accusations
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as in explores
to search through or into
tabloid reporters who seem determined to probe every detail of the singer's private life
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Recent Examples of probes
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
The probes follow a global surge over the past few weeks in the use of Grok to create and share nonconsensual, intimate images, or NCII, derived from photos or videos of real people in response to user’s prompts.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
Pearson was not charged in any of those probes.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
The science payload to be landed there includes seismometers, a drill to allow emplacement of heat flow and electrical conductivity probes, and instruments to study the magnetic field and surface weathering.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
But that extra time in space could have some consequences for the twin probes, ESCAPADE scientists say.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2026
The company is under several federal safety investigations and other probes.
—Paul Harloff, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
Togar’s work probes how this infrastructure can be reactivated, recontextualized, or recoded in contemporary settings.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Self-replicating probes are imminent – Implications for SETI.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Aside from the annual financial review, the CSU’s internal auditing process also probes the 23 campuses in its system, including their auxiliaries.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025
As a result of the incident, Chase suffers from memory gaps, which becomes something of a hurdle in the film when director Marina Zenovich probes Chase on his reputation for being difficult, particular incidents with SNL performer Terry Sweeney, and the conclusion of his work on Community.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
The Peekskill Police Department said Friday the officer is on paid administrative leave while the district attorney probes his actions during the arrest at Riverfront Green Park.
—Tony Aiello, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
Underneath the genre frame, the film probes how both families confront loss.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
On its second launch, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket started a pair of NASA probes on a journey to Mars, and had its booster finish its own flight by landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
—PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025
Streep will play veteran New York property market journalist Diane Castle who, disillusioned with writing about the wealthy elite, probes a record-breaking sale of a new penthouse and the buyer’s identity for what could be the story of a lifetime.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Through intimate interviews with players, coaches, parents, journalists and opponents, director Kevin Shaw probes media bias, racial stereotypes, community pride and the ethical complexities of youth sports—showing how a moment meant to celebrate young athletes became a lasting stigma.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Regulatory probes are also underway in Malaysia and India, CNBC reported.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
The probes follow a global surge over the past few weeks in the use of Grok to create and share nonconsensual, intimate images, or NCII, derived from photos or videos of real people in response to user’s prompts.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
Pearson was not charged in any of those probes.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
The science payload to be landed there includes seismometers, a drill to allow emplacement of heat flow and electrical conductivity probes, and instruments to study the magnetic field and surface weathering.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
But that extra time in space could have some consequences for the twin probes, ESCAPADE scientists say.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2026
The company is under several federal safety investigations and other probes.
—Paul Harloff, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
Togar’s work probes how this infrastructure can be reactivated, recontextualized, or recoded in contemporary settings.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Self-replicating probes are imminent – Implications for SETI.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
In Sentimental Value, the writer-director Joachim Trier probes the real purpose of confessional art.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Aside from the annual financial review, the CSU’s internal auditing process also probes the 23 campuses in its system, including their auxiliaries.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025
As a result of the incident, Chase suffers from memory gaps, which becomes something of a hurdle in the film when director Marina Zenovich probes Chase on his reputation for being difficult, particular incidents with SNL performer Terry Sweeney, and the conclusion of his work on Community.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
The Peekskill Police Department said Friday the officer is on paid administrative leave while the district attorney probes his actions during the arrest at Riverfront Green Park.
—Tony Aiello, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
Underneath the genre frame, the film probes how both families confront loss.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
On its second launch, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket started a pair of NASA probes on a journey to Mars, and had its booster finish its own flight by landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
—PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025
Streep will play veteran New York property market journalist Diane Castle who, disillusioned with writing about the wealthy elite, probes a record-breaking sale of a new penthouse and the buyer’s identity for what could be the story of a lifetime.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Through intimate interviews with players, coaches, parents, journalists and opponents, director Kevin Shaw probes media bias, racial stereotypes, community pride and the ethical complexities of youth sports—showing how a moment meant to celebrate young athletes became a lasting stigma.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probes
Noun
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Nikolas Kokovlis | Nurphoto | Getty Images Elon Musk’s xAI said late Wednesday that Grok will no longer be able to create sexualized images of real people on its social network X based on user prompts following weeks of consumer and political backlash and regulatory investigations.—
Lora Kolodny,Ari Levy,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
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The Gestapo were the political police under Adolph Hitler's Nazi regime, which used tactics including surveillance, home searches, and interrogation — including torture — in investigations of people seen as enemies of the Nazis.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This guide explores various methods to eliminate soap scum and offers preventive measures to stop its return.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
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The musical explores the cost of artistic obsession across generations, with the second act jumping forward a century to examine the legacy of Seurat’s work.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Commanders owner Josh Harris used former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers as a consultant in their coaching and GM searches two years ago.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
1 Jan. 2026
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ChatGPT searches Apple Music and builds the playlist for you.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The hospital directed all inquiries to the NYPD.—
Alexandra Koch , Michael Ruiz , Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Malliotakis has not been in contact with the family of Luckey-Lange, son of the late musician Diane Luckey, but initially reached out to the State Department after her office received inquiries about his detention from local and state media.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The commission also investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment, and looks into issues regarding employment, housing, education and credit.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.—
ProPublica’s Visual Storytelling Department,
ProPublica,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lindsey and Dark praised the three exemplary collections for their nuanced explorations of the human condition.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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Chon’s debut feature previewed his talents as a filmmaker offering up richly cinematic and character-driven explorations of the Asian American experience.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The document is above; a full Associated Press report examines the changes and includes reaction from experts.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Le Guin examines unchecked power, eugenics, and the ethics of governance in this inventive and consistently surprising novel, which explores the limits of trying to manifest a better world.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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By age 14, Abergel had dropped out of school, taken his graduate record examinations and ventured to New York in hopes of one day joining the American Ballet Theatre.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Nardello is described as a global investigations firm with expertise in tracing company assets, financial examinations, and criminal and civil white collar litigation, the committee said.—
Jonathan Randles,
Bloomberg,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Probes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probes. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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