scrutinize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
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.
Scrutinize URLs: Before clicking on links, hover over them to check the full URL.
From Salon • Sep. 26, 2024
Scrutinize the admissions agreement — the legal contract that outlines the services, costs and other terms of admission —and ask questions about what can trigger an eviction.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 2, 2023
What to do about it: Scrutinize the claims here on all sides, particularly trade-offs involved in free expression and the impact on marginalized children if these proposed regulations were to become law.
From The Verge • Mar. 18, 2022
Scrutinize the prose, not the life, he scolds.
From New York Times • Oct. 20, 2020
Scrutinize all the terms you use yourself, as well as those used in arguments on the other side.
From The Making of Arguments by Gardiner, J. H.
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.
