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
-
The project is part of NASA’s SIMPLEx, or Small, Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration, program, which aims to spur researchers and companies to devise ways to use small spacecraft to carry out science investigations for pennies on the dollar.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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The department declined to comment on OneCoin’s activities, citing ongoing investigations and court proceedings.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Other projects announced at the launch event today include Gangster Priest, a black comedy about a gangster who has trouble leaving behind his life of crime; and horror film Hopscotch, which explores how family trauma is replicated through new generations.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Across eight episodes, the series explores how love can twist into possession and how far a parent will go to protect their child.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
ChatGPT searches Apple Music and builds the playlist for you.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The hospital directed all inquiries to the NYPD.—
Alexandra Koch , Michael Ruiz , Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
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
-
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.—
ProPublica’s Visual Storytelling Department,
ProPublica,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This month, young readers can curl up with nonfiction explorations of the galaxy, thumb through an old astronomy textbook with a fresh new story to tell, or experience the peace of being (almost) alone on the moon.—
Caroline Carlson,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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The Chamber Music Society of Minnesota presented an eclectic concert on Sunday at Hamline University’s Sundin Music Hall, spanning centuries and continents and offering celebrations, surprises and new explorations.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
28 Oct. 2025
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
-
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
-
In 31 patients with heart failure, the new saliva test identified it 81% of the time – which is on par with traditional, more invasive medical examinations.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 Nov. 2025
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Metal detectors then helped pinpoint the likely locations for more extensive examinations.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Probes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probes. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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