EXAMINE Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'examine' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of examine are inspect , scan , and scrutinize . While all these words mean "to look at or over," examine suggests a scrutiny in order to determine the nature, condition, or quality of a thing. // examined the specimens

Q: When would 'inspect' be a good substitute for 'examine'?

The words inspect and examine can be used in similar contexts, but inspect implies scrutinizing for errors or defects. // inspected my credentials

Q: In what contexts can 'scan' take the place of 'examine'?

The meanings of scan and examine largely overlap; however, scan implies a surveying from point to point often suggesting a cursory overall observation. // scanned the wine list

Q: When is 'scrutinize' a more appropriate choice than 'examine'?

Although the words scrutinize and examine have much in common, scrutinize stresses close attention to minute detail. // scrutinized the hospital bill

examine

verb

ig-ˈza-mən

Definition of examine

as in to interrogate

to put a series of questions to the defense attorney was eager to examine her star witness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to inspect

to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) the customer painstakingly examined the antique piece of furniture from top to bottom before purchasing it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to explore

to search through or into a groundbreaking study that examined the causes of juvenile delinquency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word examine different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of examine are inspect, scan, and scrutinize. While all these words mean "to look at or over," examine suggests a scrutiny in order to determine the nature, condition, or quality of a thing.

examined the specimens

When would inspect be a good substitute for examine?

The words inspect and examine can be used in similar contexts, but inspect implies scrutinizing for errors or defects.

inspected my credentials

In what contexts can scan take the place of examine?

The meanings of scan and examine largely overlap; however, scan implies a surveying from point to point often suggesting a cursory overall observation.

scanned the wine list

When is scrutinize a more appropriate choice than examine?

Although the words scrutinize and examine have much in common, scrutinize stresses close attention to minute detail.

scrutinized the hospital bill

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 examine Announced on August 13, the project will use Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle to approach, examine, and remove spacecraft nearing the end of their operational lives. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026 The watchdog also criticized internal affairs investigators’ reliance on deputies’ logs and detectives’ case files, which were oriented at establishing criminal liability, not examining institutional flaws. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 Those examining Burke’s digital footprint pointed out Hernandez also had long brown hair; the woman’s jeans were celestial, a reference to Hernandez’s name. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 The story that followed mentioned a study that examined the leisure habits of nearly a quarter of a million Americans. — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for examine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for examine

Verb

Animals Soul Blind Larissa Diakiw On interrogating fear and what bats can teach about human connection.

— Naomi Skwarna, hazlitt.net, 13 Aug. 2026
There is a black tarpaulin on the wall that’s been assaulted with paint and more than a dozen lamps suspended above it, blasting the painting with light as if to interrogate it about the circumstances of its creation.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of interrogate

Verb

Jesús Méndez, his supervisor, inspected the boxes before they were loaded onto a truck with the tracking details.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
As a general industry guideline, tires should be inspected carefully after five years in service for hardening, cracks, cuts and flat spots.

— John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of inspect

Verb

The research, published in Chem Circularity, explores a system based on calcium looping, a process that uses the same basic material—limestone—that is already central to cement manufacturing.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2026
Art fairs, collectors’ homes, artists’ studios, galas… The film is a welcoming and entertaining dive amongst the 1% and explores the complicated relationship between artists and commerce.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of explore

Verb

The spending is heavily dominated by staff travel, transportation and lodging, which make up the vast majority of the top expenditures, per P-card data reviewed by the Herald after a public records request.

— Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
But the ambitious project remains mired in planning and bureaucratic complications, with groundbreaking still two years off and the cost nearly tripling to more than $1 billion, documents reviewed by The Times show.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of review

Verb

Desperate for answers, Reeder is depending on detectives investigating his daughter’s disappearance to crack the case.

— Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
The case was investigated by fraud detectives, and a warrant was issued for her arrest this week.

— City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of investigate

Verb

Social Security uses technology to scan disability applications for conditions on the compassionate allowances list, and those applications often receive approval within days, according to one law firm.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
The scientists used cutting-edge airborne laser scanning technology and found hundreds of previously unknown earthworks.

— Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of scan

Browse Nearby Words

examinations

examine

examined

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“Examine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/examine. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of examine

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