Synonyms of probing

probing 1 of 2

noun

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

• investigation
• inquiry
• examination
• exploration
• probe
• study
• research
• inspection
• delving
• inquisition
• disquisition
• inquest
• probation
• survey
• questionnaire
• audit
• interrogation
• examen
• quest
• diagnosis
• hearing
• question
• checkup
• query
• trial
• challenge
• poll
• check
• grilling
• cross-examination
• feeler
• soul-searching
• reinvestigation
• rehearing
• questionary
• self-examination
• quiz
• self-questioning
• self-scrutiny
• going-over
• self-reflection
• self-exploration

probing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of probe

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

• exploring
• investigating
• examining
• researching
• looking (into)
• inspecting
• digging (into)
• inquiring (into)
• scanning
• delving (into)
• studying
• checking into
• viewing
• checking up on
• sifting
• perusing
• surfing
• skimming (through)
• browsing
• thumbing (through)
• cruising
• reinvestigating

2

as in searching

to go into or range over for purposes of discovery

probing the depths of the undersea trench

Synonyms & Similar Words

• searching
• exploring
• hunting
• prospecting
• discovering
• skirring
• scouting
• disclosing
• revealing
• reconnoitering
• unearthing
• plumbing
• fathoming
• sounding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of probing

Noun

But neither of them seemed eager to undergo much emotional probing. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Mission two was to do a lot of listening, a lot of probing, a lot of asking questions, skip levels to really understand the opportunity for the go forward, but also embrace what makes TIAA incredibly special. — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 22 June 2026

Davis’ ability to reflect and respond with his pithy probing of the disagreeing chord turned chaos into something cogent. — Steven D. Reske, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026

It’s composed of 22 bilaterally symmetric appendages that ring the nostrils and move independently, sweeping the substrate in continuous probing arcs. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

Here’s a probing, exclusive, in-depth conversation Benn had with The Athletic following Monday’s practice. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026

The hosts also talk about Prasad’s second exit from the FDA and a congressman’s probing of the agency’s rare disease drug denials. — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026

To this end, the event was likely either a misunderstanding or a deliberate probing of China’s aerial defense response. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026

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

Verb

The cutbacks and mixed messaging have undermined unity at the alliance, just as Russia has been probing Europe’s defenses with drone flights near military bases across multiple countries, according to a study released Thursday. — Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

The cutbacks and mixed messaging has undermined unity at the alliance, just as Russia has been probing Europe’s defenses with drone flights near military bases across multiple countries, according to a study released on Thursday. — Lorne Cook, Fortune, 5 July 2026

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been probing for atmospheres around other rocky worlds orbiting red dwarfs, such as those in the TRAPPIST-1 system. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 2 July 2026

When probing is continuous and cheap, the only thing that holds is what was designed correctly from the start. — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

The ongoing concerns that a Gwinnett County church's fence may have been installed over graves have continued, with an archaeologist probing the ground on Tuesday to see what lies beneath. — Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 30 June 2026

The figure was disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by Deadline, which also revealed that the BBC was probing a further four cases of bullying and harassment, taking the total tally of live investigations to nine. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 June 2026

Austrian privacy laws discourage journalists from asking probing questions, but a quick-witted reporter in Salzburg had retrieved years of Plamberger’s posts, presumably before lawyers could tell him to lock his accounts. — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

Trump has been probing the limits of his executive power, including over agencies designed to be insulated from political influence. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 29 June 2026