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Synonyms

probing

American  
[proh-bing] / ˈproʊ bɪŋ /

adjective

  1. examining, investigating, or exploring something in a deep or searching way.

    There was scarcely any discussion of the proposal—no probing questions, and no legal or ethical issues raised.

noun

  1. the act or practice of examining, investigating, or exploring something in a deep or searching way.

    Constant probing of the night sky by scientists reveals an abundance of activity within our solar system.

  2. the act of examining or exploring something by means of a probe or any of various instruments, devices, etc..

    Probing of the blocked duct was done under anesthesia.

  3. Computers. the process of scanning a network, database, webpage, web app, etc., in order to obtain information about its structure and any security weaknesses that could be used to launch an attack: undertaken either maliciously by hostile parties, or diagnostically and preventively by those wishing to improve security.

Other Word Forms

  • probingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of probing

First recorded in 1660–70; 2000–05 gauging for def. 3; probe ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective sense; probe ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.