as in investigation
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something
questionings and probings by several committees into the affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in exploring
to search through or into
tabloid reporters who seem determined to probe every detail of the singer's private life
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in searching
to go into or range over for purposes of discovery
probing the depths of the undersea trench
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of probing
Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Giscard d’Estaing’s campaign self-consciously emulated American political campaigns of the day, and Depardon appropriately applies the tools of direct cinema to give us a probing, intimate look at the candidate on the cusp of power.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Our measurements show a nominal amount of responsiveness to our active probing, about 3%.
—Alberto Dainotti, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
The Algerian is equally capable of tucking into midfield, running the flanks, playing probing passes from a wide-centre-back role or making darting movements towards goal.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Federal investigators have more than 200 open cases probing these scams.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Over the summer, the NTSB heard 32 hours of testimony over three days, probing virtually every detail of what could have led to the midair collision.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
But Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara has said local authorities have received virtually no official information from the federal agencies probing the shooting.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
This searching sincerity is a hallmark of Horn’s songwriting, delivering existential probing with a dry, conversational delivery and a minimal instrumental palette.
—Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
What stood out was not agreement, but tone which was measured, probing, and rooted in mutual respect.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
And for all the soul-searching and probing, Conrad is well aware that kink can lead to comedy—up to a point.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
Before even jumping into questions during Wednesday’s conference, Cardman preempted any probing questions.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
Those memorable segments demonstrated how the desk-and-sofa format could be a tool in the politician’s arsenal for shaping public opinion away from the pesky probing of journalists.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Giscard d’Estaing’s campaign self-consciously emulated American political campaigns of the day, and Depardon appropriately applies the tools of direct cinema to give us a probing, intimate look at the candidate on the cusp of power.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2026
Our measurements show a nominal amount of responsiveness to our active probing, about 3%.
—Alberto Dainotti, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
The Algerian is equally capable of tucking into midfield, running the flanks, playing probing passes from a wide-centre-back role or making darting movements towards goal.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Psychologists with special interest in reading have been probing this question for over a decade.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Federal investigators have more than 200 open cases probing these scams.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Over the summer, the NTSB heard 32 hours of testimony over three days, probing virtually every detail of what could have led to the midair collision.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
But Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara has said local authorities have received virtually no official information from the federal agencies probing the shooting.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
This searching sincerity is a hallmark of Horn’s songwriting, delivering existential probing with a dry, conversational delivery and a minimal instrumental palette.
—Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
What stood out was not agreement, but tone which was measured, probing, and rooted in mutual respect.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
And for all the soul-searching and probing, Conrad is well aware that kink can lead to comedy—up to a point.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
Before even jumping into questions during Wednesday’s conference, Cardman preempted any probing questions.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probing
Noun
-
There’s an urge to reconnect with our heritage, and people are undertaking ancestry pilgrimages, combining boots-on-the-ground investigation into family trees and searching for documents in town halls, with discovering the places our ancestors used to call home.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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An investigation by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) has found that Team Canada manipulated the outcome of the North American Cup in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Brains and institutions alike are both drawn to exploit what already looks promising, often at the expense of exploring what’s merely interesting, awkward, or unfinished.—
Rachel Barr,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Tripadvisor just released its annual trendcast report, exploring the themes predicted to dominate travel this year, based on the travel website’s booking, behavioral, and search data.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His family spent an agonizing week searching through morgues, hospitals and detention facilities before finally identifying his body among piles of corpses, also shown in the viral footage.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Police are searching for a suspect after a Florida Memorial University student was raped on campus early Sunday morning, according to Miami Gardens police.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At the same time, the instruction was deeply committed to the idea that women could and should be full participants in scientific inquiry.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Swiss Federal Supreme Court referred her case back to CAS, with new audio-visual evidence that could prove the inquiry was filed within the required timeframe.—
Chuck Schilken,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Since last summer, police in Northern California have been investigating a hidden camera found in a public bathroom at a Kaiser Medical Center in Vallejo.—
Jeff Nguyen,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The chamber is reportedly investigating the incident.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An in-depth examination uncovers moderate profitability and growth, coupled with a competitive valuation.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The growing awareness that, even in mild COVID cases, the possibility exists for longer-term, often undetected organ damage also warrants more examination, researchers say.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The study was helmed by a group of German scientists examining the effects of ocean acidity.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Future studies will focus on improving the model, testing the system in larger groups and examining how real-time physiological data can inform care outside the clinic.—
Mayo Clinic News Network,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Each issue curates essays, interviews, frameworks, and visual explainers that add up to a coherent exploration of a topic that matters.—
Daphne Koller,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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Surviving Corporate Transition — William Bridges A classic exploration of the psychology of transition that helps leaders understand what employees experience after major organizational change.—
Jennifer J. Fondrevay,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Probing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probing. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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