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:
In addition, states including Massachusetts and Indiana recently enacted laws to scrutinize private equity’s healthcare investments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in recent months have pledged to scrutinize defense contractors’ performance, and penalize those that don’t improve.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
You’ve said the judge has promised to scrutinize this.
From Slate ● Jun. 9, 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
She waves her hand, pushing me to scrutinize the poor girl.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
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
And instead of simply presenting these characters to an audience, as “Death of a Unicorn” does, the series scrutinizes them.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 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
“I felt so cared for by Lila. She scrutinizes you and that is a gift, because many directors take care of the form but do not take care of the substance.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 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
"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
Messrs. Petro and Cepeda immediately called for the count to be scrutinized.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
In a weekly assessment of markets published Friday, Hartnett scrutinized what is being taken for granted.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
Do you think carefully about how an endorsement like that will be scrutinized?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Ignatius scrutinized the offerings furiously for a while all by himself, for the ladies had stepped back from the fence and had formed what looked like a protective little grouping.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Following Alphabet’s earnings last week, investors will be closely scrutinizing Meta’s AI spending.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Gen. Rob Bonta and other state attorneys general have been scrutinizing the proposed merger, and are widely expected to file a lawsuit, perhaps as early as this month, to try to block it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 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
Investors are scrutinizing franchisee profitability, same-store sales, and closure rates.
From Barron's ● May 26, 2026
Frowning, Mom picked it up, scrutinizing every inch.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
