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search 1 of 2

noun

Definition of searchnext
as in hunt
an act or process of looking carefully or thoroughly for someone or something the search for the missing hikers lasted several days

Synonyms & Similar Words

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search

2 of 2

verb

ˈsərch How to pronounce search (audio)
1
as in to find
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something archaeologists have begun to search the southern end of the valley, where they believe the underground tombs are located

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to explore
to go into or range over for purposes of discovery the Spanish conquistadors searched vast areas of the Southwest in their quest for the fabled cities of gold

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of search
Noun
Sherrills Ford Fire, Denver Fire, and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search for his body. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026 The Justice Department, meanwhile, has sought interviews with law enforcement officials involved in the 2022 FBI search for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
The whistleblower said that when officers raised concerns about liability for searching the tools against state guidance, agency leaders told them to proceed with the searches anyway. — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The process isn't much different than searching a travel site directly, and there are restrictions. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for search
Recent Examples of Synonyms for search
  1. hunt
  2. find
  3. explore
  4. quest
  5. scan
  6. locate
  7. comb
  8. investigate
Noun
  • Many also are addicted to the thrill of the hunt for rare, unique items at a better price.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The hunt for the next big thing is still what excites many in the industry, said EOG’s Yacob.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of hunt
Verb
  • Fusion signatures face scrutiny The researchers also found temperature differences between the active reactor and a calibration device operating under comparable input-power conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Even on a long, tiring shoot, the cast mostly still finds the energy to celebrate each other.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of find
Verb
  • In the title role, Rosalind Eleazar explores the ups and downs of life as a working actor whose earlier success has stalled.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • As research increasingly explores how the gut microbiome may affect everything from digestion and immune function to metabolism and brain health, many of us are better recognizing its influence and importance.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of explore
Noun
  • The style serves the film’s quest to connect rather than competing with it.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026
  • But when Emma never shows up to their meeting, Pao and Dante will have to go on an epic quest— filled with awkward moments, sarcasm, and somewhat reluctant friendships—to save their best friend.
    — Kavya Dhillon, Parents, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of quest
Verb
  • Daybreak saw the start of a foot search that spread 36 square miles (94 square kilometers), as drones scanned the dusty land.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • And as Matthew scanned the debris, suddenly, something caught her eye.
    — Samantha Watson, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of scan
Verb
  • Since then, his settings have become harder to locate in the contemporary world.
    — Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
  • These farms are located in the best Premier and Grand Cru villages in the Montagne de Reims, including Verzenay (which makes up about 45 percent of the cuvée), Verzy, Ludes, and Mailly.
    — Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of locate
Verb
  • In time, national security institutions were routinely vacuuming up ordinary police information, and local law enforcement officers were combing through federal intelligence.
    — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Comella started combing the pile, picking up light debris, trying to get surface victims.
    — Peter Wilkinson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of comb
Verb
  • Given such an unprecedented event, police in Fall River were not prepared to investigate a double homicide, ultimately compromising the crime scene and the early days of the investigation.
    — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Detectives with the Police Department’s major collision investigation unit and crime scene investigators are investigating, according to Smith.
    — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of investigate

Phrases Containing search

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sear
search
searched
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Cite this Entry

“Search.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/search. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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