scrutinize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
scrutinizationnoun
-
scrutinizernoun
-
rescrutinizeverb (used with object)
-
self-scrutinizedadjective
-
self-scrutinizingadjective
-
unscrutinizedadjective
-
unscrutinizingadjective
-
scrutinizinglyadverb
-
unscrutinizinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
scrutinizesimple
-
scrutinizessimple
-
have scrutinizedperfect
-
has scrutinizedperfect
-
am scrutinizingprogressive
-
are scrutinizingprogressive
-
is scrutinizingprogressive
-
have been scrutinizingperfect progressive
-
has been scrutinizingperfect progressive
Past
-
scrutinizedsimple
-
had scrutinizedperfect
-
was scrutinizingprogressive
-
were scrutinizingprogressive
-
had been scrutinizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scrutinize
First recorded in 1665–75; scrutin(y) + -ize
Explanation
If you want to examine something closely and go over every single detail, then you should scrutinize it. Like the way your mom probably assesses your outfit before you leave the house for school. Scrutinizing is very different from glancing or gazing. It's even more than a long, hard look. To scrutinize something, you have to look at it really critically, investigating every nook and cranny. Often things are scrutinized to verify if they're correct or authentic. So it makes perfect sense that this verb is rooted in the Latin word scrutari, which means “to search.”
Vocabulary lists containing scrutinize
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 Top "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Raisin in the Sun
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The lawsuit is one of the first in the U.S. to scrutinize the potential role of AI in determining layoffs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Nandy suggested that Britain also should scrutinize the impact of combining two major streaming services, HBO Max, a Warner property, with Paramount+.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Donabedian expects investors to scrutinize the CPI, especially in the wake of energy price spikes related to the Iran war.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
Our legal system seems well prepared to scrutinize and punish their acts of self-preservation instead of examining the circumstances that made those acts necessary.
From Slate ● Jun. 4, 2026
He brought his head back up to scrutinize me.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
“Eddington” scrutinizes our national psyche so intensely that it makes folks itchy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026
She scrutinizes every element of her tour looking for ways to be more environmentally conscious.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2025
Meanwhile, an explosion of popular literature scrutinizes those rules and places white people’s elevated status in sharp relief.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2025
Now, she is moving again—this time into the House of Lords, the United Kingdom’s unelected upper legislative chamber that scrutinizes, amends, and approves proposed legislation.
From Science Magazine ● May 10, 2024
Instead, she looks back down at the bin and scrutinizes each object for clues, for some bit of information to store away and examine later.
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
Banks set aside more money for potential losses and scrutinized their books for any signs that distress could be bubbling up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Do you think carefully about how an endorsement like that will be scrutinized?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
From the beginning, the victims were scrutinized on the chance they might provide a motive.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
When she scrutinized his Facebook page, which has since been taken down, she noticed the account was based in Nigeria.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
What was interesting was how he stooped over and scrutinized each object before extending a slow, deliberate hand.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Wall Street is scrutinizing their business performance more closely than ever ahead of their market debuts.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
U.S. authorities are scrutinizing “data handling and securing data with connected cars,” Volvo Chief Executive Håkan Samuelsson said on an investor call Friday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
But it’s clear, at least, that the administration is scrutinizing current elections closely.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
The job: The city controller serves as L.A.’s chief auditor and watchdog of the public purse, including scrutinizing how money is spent and whether City Hall is performing efficiently.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026
She reads each signature over and over, checking how securely each lock of hair is pasted, scrutinizing each symbol.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
