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
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A Raisin in the Sun
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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.
Still, it could be a wake-up call for voters to scrutinize politicians a bit more before casting their ballots, he added.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
On the agenda: a fierce debate over whether to give the city’s inspector general greater access to scrutinize spending by the administration of Mayor Brandon Scott.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Securities and Exchange Commission to closely scrutinize SpaceX’s IPO filings.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
The Federal Reserve’s Inspector General will now scrutinize billions of dollars in building cost overruns related to Powell’s testimony.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
The song ended and Lily flopped down on her little bench in front of her vanity and began to scrutinize her highlights.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
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.
