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
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2026
Some of these probes may already have been pulled down, considering the long timeline of Mars exploration.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 4 June 2026
But Pulte has close ties to Trump and has been a reliable ally to the President, having publicly attacked and helped initiate probes into several of his political enemies.
—Connor Greene, Time, 2 June 2026
Investigations, reviews and outside probes In the midst of the overpayment debate, the unemployment insurance division devolved into a series of investigations, reviews of those investigations and spiraling distrust between staff and superiors, labor department documents obtained by The Post show.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
Woodward suggested that this case was not specifically tied to other Covid-19 origin probes underway by the department, noting that the Antitrust Division does not have jurisdiction over that issue.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The trailer shows an ambulance racing away from Diddly Squat Farm, followed by cell-phone footage of a nurse attaching probes to Clarkson’s chest in a hospital bed as a machine beeps in the background.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 May 2026
Pressure to align with the president’s agenda has only increased in recent months as the administration launches probes and recruits whistleblowers.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 15 May 2026
In some cases, the medical-examiner probes obtained by CNN seemed to contradict statements in the ICE reports in crucial ways.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
The new wording would require a challenger to put forward evidence sufficient to support a finding of fabrication before the court probes further.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Further evidence gathered by both the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite that probes Mars’s surface for clues to its current and past geology, and NASA’s Perseverance rover suggests the planet also has material made up of crystals of hydrated silica—a mineral better known on Earth as opal.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 12 May 2026
So the government probes by the FCC and DOJ are questioning whether the 1961 act is being violated by 2020s-era broadcasting rights to pay streaming services.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Spe Chen speaks with the man working to preserve the city’s heritage of neon lights, and David Ingles probes the validity of an old market adage in the age of AI.
—Bloomberg, 7 May 2026
The senators' letter probes the potential political motivations of the investigation.
—Matt Peterson,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
That tension created fertile ground for jokes, says the actor, who probes similar spaces in his Apple TV series, Shrinking.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Hubble's images help track seasonal changes, while Webb's infrared vision probes different atmospheric layers.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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 June 2026
Some of these probes may already have been pulled down, considering the long timeline of Mars exploration.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 4 June 2026
But Pulte has close ties to Trump and has been a reliable ally to the President, having publicly attacked and helped initiate probes into several of his political enemies.
—Connor Greene, Time, 2 June 2026
Investigations, reviews and outside probes In the midst of the overpayment debate, the unemployment insurance division devolved into a series of investigations, reviews of those investigations and spiraling distrust between staff and superiors, labor department documents obtained by The Post show.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
Woodward suggested that this case was not specifically tied to other Covid-19 origin probes underway by the department, noting that the Antitrust Division does not have jurisdiction over that issue.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The trailer shows an ambulance racing away from Diddly Squat Farm, followed by cell-phone footage of a nurse attaching probes to Clarkson’s chest in a hospital bed as a machine beeps in the background.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 May 2026
Pressure to align with the president’s agenda has only increased in recent months as the administration launches probes and recruits whistleblowers.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 15 May 2026
In some cases, the medical-examiner probes obtained by CNN seemed to contradict statements in the ICE reports in crucial ways.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
Verb
His intervention comes as Washington indicts and probes governors for alleged cartel ties.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
The new wording would require a challenger to put forward evidence sufficient to support a finding of fabrication before the court probes further.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Further evidence gathered by both the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite that probes Mars’s surface for clues to its current and past geology, and NASA’s Perseverance rover suggests the planet also has material made up of crystals of hydrated silica—a mineral better known on Earth as opal.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 12 May 2026
So the government probes by the FCC and DOJ are questioning whether the 1961 act is being violated by 2020s-era broadcasting rights to pay streaming services.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Spe Chen speaks with the man working to preserve the city’s heritage of neon lights, and David Ingles probes the validity of an old market adage in the age of AI.
—Bloomberg, 7 May 2026
The senators' letter probes the potential political motivations of the investigation.
—Matt Peterson,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
That tension created fertile ground for jokes, says the actor, who probes similar spaces in his Apple TV series, Shrinking.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Hubble's images help track seasonal changes, while Webb's infrared vision probes different atmospheric layers.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probes
Noun
-
If the show still has some of those deep investigations then bringing in creators to do — hopefully well-done and polished — softer pieces could be OK.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
-
In short, electronic devices matter in NFL investigations.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
This lyrical collection from B Batchelor—a 2025 Haymarket Writing Freedom Fellow, and a recipient of multiple awards from PEN America—explores the way incarceration distorts time.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Written and directed by Stone, the movie is described as being an intimate and provocative drama that explores family, loss, pain and uncovers how love can change shape during our lifetimes.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Every time someone streams a movie, uses cloud storage, makes an online purchase, searches the internet or interacts with an AI chatbot, information is typically processed in a data center somewhere.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
This will, no doubt, inflate the number of AI Mode searches even more.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Police arrested three people on suspicion of killing Orabiyi, with one released on bail pending further inquiries.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2026
-
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence referred inquiries to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the film investigates evidence that Greenland’s ice sheet collapsed in the past and asks what that reveals about the planet’s future.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
-
At many points, this project investigates mothers who are men or nongendered, but who care for other Black people, especially in the pursuit of liberation from oppression.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The Prime Video comedy series, which is currently filming its second season, is loosely based on Skinner's own college years, satirizing his early explorations of love as a gay man in all of its pain and pleasure.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
-
The 2026 Open Doors Projects showcase features six first and second features in development — from portraits of music and memory to explorations of womanhood, urban life and the long shadows of colonialism.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Originally from Long Island, New York, and shaped by 20 years in southern Arizona, her work examines the intersection of wild landscapes, small-town culture, and the spirit of adventure.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
The service convenes a group of officers, called a promotion board, that examines the records of eligible officers and chooses those deemed to be the most qualified.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
If audits and examinations into the president's taxes were thrown out under the settlement, an untold figure could be wiped from his bill to the federal tax collector.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
The team believes that the technology could become highly valuable in reactor research, post-irradiation examinations, and nuclear forensics investigations that involve shielded and hazardous materials.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Probes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probes. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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