inspect

verb

in-ˈspekt How to pronounce inspect (audio)
Definition of inspectnext
as in to examine
to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) inspected the collie before the dog show

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of inspect are examine, scan, and scrutinize. While all these words mean "to look at or over," inspect implies scrutinizing for errors or defects.

inspected my credentials

When can examine be used instead of inspect?

The words examine and inspect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, examine suggests a scrutiny in order to determine the nature, condition, or quality of a thing.

examined the specimens

When might scan be a better fit than inspect?

In some situations, the words scan and inspect are roughly equivalent. However, scan implies a surveying from point to point often suggesting a cursory overall observation.

scanned the wine list

When would scrutinize be a good substitute for inspect?

The synonyms scrutinize and inspect are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 inspect To highlight how Illinois can do more to boost its own electricity generation, Walling is sponsoring a trip for lawmakers and labor leaders to inspect geothermal energy projects in Vancouver, British Columbia, starting Monday. — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Teams can inspect agent work, approve or override outputs, and expand to new workflows as value is demonstrated. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026 The county health department inspects all restaurants in the county except those in Fort Worth, Arlington, Euless and North Richland Hills. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2026 On July 18, Miller and two RCMP officers went to the school to inspect the curbstop. — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inspect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inspect
  1. examine
  2. scan
  3. review
  4. survey
Verb
  • Schrell examined whether annual production campaigns would be more effective, but concluded that the approach would not make economic or operational sense because of costs, limited hot-cell capacity and the isotope’s relatively short half-life.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Young Washington stars William Franklyn-Miller as Washington, which examines how a single misstep thrusts the future first president into the middle of a global conflict.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of examine
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
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
  • When Litera surveyed firms on what would set them apart once every competitor has the same AI models, the answers had nothing to do with technology.
    — Avaneesh Marwaha, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In about 10% of companies surveyed, the positions are fully merged.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of survey

Browse Nearby Words

insouciant
inspect
inspected
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inspect. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on inspect

Nglish: Translation of inspect for Spanish Speakers

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