Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense scrutinizes, present participle scrutinizing, past tense, past participle scrutinizedregional note: in BRIT, also use scrutinise
verb
If you scrutinize something, you examine it very carefully, often to find out some information from it or about it.
Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man. [VERB noun]
Lloyds' results were carefully scrutinised as a guide to what to expect from theother banks. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: examine, study, inspect, research More Synonyms of scrutinize
scrutinize in British English
or scrutinise (ˈskruːtɪˌnaɪz)
verb
(transitive)
to examine carefully or in minute detail
Derived forms
scrutinizer (ˈscrutiˌnizer) or scrutiniser (ˈscrutiˌniser)
noun
scrutinize in American English
(ˈskrutənˌaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈscrutiˌnized or ˈscrutiˌnizing
to look at very carefully; examine closely; inspect minutely
SYNONYMY NOTE: scrutinize implies a looking over carefully and searchingly in order to observe the minutestdetails [he slowly scrutinized the bank note]; inspect implies close, critical observation, esp. for detecting errors, flaws, etc. [to inspect a building for fire hazards]; examine suggests close observation or investigation to determine the condition, quality,validity, etc. of something [examined thoroughly by a doctor]; scan, in its earlier, stricter sense, implies close scrutiny, but in current usage, itmore frequently connotes a quick, rather superficial survey [to scan the headlines]
Derived forms
scrutinizer (ˈscrutiˌnizer)
noun
Word origin
< scrutiny + -ize
Examples of 'scrutinize' in a sentence
scrutinize
The Church had to scrutinize every claim of a miraculous intervention, and rightly so.
Stewart, Michael GRACE (2003)
Behind her, I noticed, the estate agents had left their desks and come to the window the better to scrutinize proceedings.
Edward Docx THE CALLIGRAPHER (2003)
Other courts cannot follow that principle, for they consist of several opinions and have higher courts to scrutinize them.
various (2003)
In other languages
scrutinize
British English: scrutinize VERB
If you scrutinize something, you examine it very carefully, often to find out some information from it or about it.
Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man.
American English: scrutinize
Brazilian Portuguese: examinar minuciosamente
Chinese: 仔细察看
European Spanish: escudriñar
French: scruter
German: untersuchen
Italian: scrutare
Japanese: 細かに調べる
Korean: 면밀히 관찰하다
European Portuguese: examinar minuciosamente
Latin American Spanish: escudriñar
(verb)
Definition
to examine carefully or in minute detail
She scrutinized his features.
Synonyms
examine
He examined her passport and stamped it.
study
I invite every citizen to carefully study the document.
inspect
Each hotel is inspected once a year.
research
They research the needs of both employers and staff.
search
Armed troops searched the hospital yesterday.
investigate
Gas officials are investigating the cause of the explosion.
explore
The film explores the relationship between artist and instrument.
probe
The more they probed into his background, the more suspicious they became.
analyse
This book teaches you to analyse causes of stress in your life.
scan
The officer scanned the room.
sift
He has sifted the evidence and summarized it clearly.
dissect
People want to dissect his work.
work over
pore over
peruse
She was perusing a copy of Life magazine.
inquire into
Inspectors inquired into the affairs of the company.
go over with a fine-tooth comb
Additional synonyms
in the sense of analyse
Definition
to psychoanalyse (someone)
This book teaches you to analyse causes of stress in your life.
Synonyms
examine,
test,
study,
research,
judge,
estimate,
survey,
investigate,
interpret,
evaluate,
inspect,
work over
in the sense of dissect
Definition
to examine critically and minutely
People want to dissect his work.
Synonyms
analyse,
study,
investigate,
research,
explore,
break down,
inspect,
scrutinize
in the sense of explore
Definition
to examine or investigate, esp. systematically
The film explores the relationship between artist and instrument.
Synonyms
investigate,
consider,
research,
survey,
search,
prospect,
examine,
probe,
analyse,
look into,
inspect,
work over,
scrutinize,
inquire into
Synonyms of 'scrutinize'
scrutinize
Explore 'scrutinize' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inquire into
Definition
to make an investigation
Inspectors inquired into the affairs of the company.
Synonyms
investigate,
study,
examine,
consider,
research,
search,
explore,
look into,
inspect,
probe into,
scrutinize,
make inquiries into
in the sense of inspect
Definition
to examine officially
Each hotel is inspected once a year.
Synonyms
check,
examine,
investigate,
study,
look at,
research,
search,
survey,
assess,
probe,
audit,
vet,
oversee,
supervise,
check out (informal),
look over,
work over,
superintend,
give (something or someone) the once-over (informal),
go over or through
in the sense of investigate
Definition
to inquire into (a situation or problem) thoroughly in order to discover the truth
Gas officials are investigating the cause of the explosion.
Synonyms
examine,
study,
research,
consider,
go into,
explore,
search for,
analyse,
look into,
inspect,
look over,
sift,
probe into,
work over,
scrutinize,
inquire into,
make inquiries about,
enquire into
in the sense of peruse
Definition
to browse or read in a leisurely way
She was perusing a copy of Life magazine.
Synonyms
read,
study,
scan,
check,
examine,
inspect,
browse,
look through,
eyeball (slang),
work over,
scrutinize,
run your eye over,
surf
in the sense of probe
Definition
to investigate, or look into, closely
The more they probed into his background, the more suspicious they became.
Synonyms
examine,
research,
go into,
investigate,
explore,
test,
sound,
search,
look into,
query,
verify,
sift,
analyze,
dissect,
delve into,
work over,
scrutinize
in the sense of research
Definition
to carry out investigations into (a subject)
They research the needs of both employers and staff.
Synonyms
investigate,
study,
examine,
experiment,
explore,
probe,
analyse,
look into,
work over,
scrutinize,
make inquiries,
do tests,
consult the archives
in the sense of scan
Definition
to scrutinize carefully
The officer scanned the room.
Synonyms
survey,
search,
investigate,
sweep,
con (archaic),
scour,
scrutinize,
take stock of,
recce (slang)
in the sense of search
Definition
to look through (a place) thoroughly in order to find someone or something
Armed troops searched the hospital yesterday.
Synonyms
examine,
check,
investigate,
explore,
probe,
inspect,
comb,
inquire,
sift,
scour,
ferret,
pry,
ransack,
forage,
scrutinize,
turn upside down,
rummage through,
frisk (informal),
cast around,
rifle through,
leave no stone unturned,
turn inside out,
fossick (Australian, New Zealand),
go over with a fine-tooth comb
in the sense of sift
Definition
to examine (information or evidence) carefully to select what is important
He has sifted the evidence and summarized it clearly.
Synonyms
examine,
investigate,
go through,
research,
screen,
probe,
analyse,
work over,
pore over,
scrutinize
in the sense of study
Definition
to investigate or examine (something) by observation and research
I invite every citizen to carefully study the document.