scrutinize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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scrutinizationnoun
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scrutinizernoun
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rescrutinizeverb (used with object)
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self-scrutinizedadjective
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self-scrutinizingadjective
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unscrutinizedadjective
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unscrutinizingadjective
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scrutinizinglyadverb
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unscrutinizinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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scrutinizesimple
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scrutinizessimple
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have scrutinizedperfect
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has scrutinizedperfect
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am scrutinizingprogressive
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are scrutinizingprogressive
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is scrutinizingprogressive
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have been scrutinizingperfect progressive
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has been scrutinizingperfect progressive
Past
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scrutinizedsimple
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had scrutinizedperfect
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was scrutinizingprogressive
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were scrutinizingprogressive
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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
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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:
Investors should scrutinize both companies’ arrangements, which may still change before their IPOs, and price shares accordingly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 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
The wellness obsession is a lucrative and possibly permanent slice of the modern economy, fueled by consumers who scrutinize granola labels, train religiously and shop organic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 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
I scrutinize the house, but there’s nothing to see.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
The probe is the first into a Chinese deal under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation, which scrutinizes non-EU government support.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
“Eddington” scrutinizes our national psyche so intensely that it makes folks itchy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026
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
The smith scrutinizes my face, his brow furrowed as if he’s considering something, making a decision.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
"This is my last decision," James, who had made three prior heavily scrutinized free agent moves in his career, posted.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The passage of time is central to McElwee’s work, but he’s rarely scrutinized the topic as aggressively as he does here.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
From the beginning, the victims were scrutinized on the chance they might provide a motive.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
Even a reading that’s in line with expectations will be closely scrutinized, as investors will want to understand which components of inflation are in control of the economy.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
He scrutinized Meggie so thoroughly she felt quite embarrassed and didn’t know where to look.
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
Wall Street is scrutinizing their business performance more closely than ever ahead of their market debuts.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Coke instructed its technicians to conduct regular quality reviews of McDonald’s equipment, scrutinizing everything from temperature to carbonation levels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
In the DOJ’s aborted investigation of Southern Coal, prosecutors and federal agents had begun to gather evidence, scrutinizing testimony in the Justices’ various civil trials, and had approached former employees seeking information.
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 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
I stagger through the door under Mother’s scrutinizing eyes.
From "Tasting the Sky" by Ibtisam Barakat
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.
