scrutinize

/ˈskruː.tɪ.naɪz/ formal

Say it: SKROO-tin-ize

verb To examine or inspect something closely and thoroughly, often with a critical eye to find faults or details.
The auditors will scrutinize the company's financial records for any sign of fraud.

📖 Seen in the wild

The detective began to scrutinize the crime scene for any overlooked clues.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ scrutinize in a sentence

Before submitting the proposal, she scrutinized every line for potential errors.
The detective scrutinized the crime scene, hoping to find a clue the others had missed.
His every move came under public scrutiny after the scandal broke.
Investors are closely scrutinizing the tech giant's quarterly earnings report.
He scrutinized her face, trying to understand what she was truly thinking.
As a copy editor, my job is to scrutinize texts for grammatical and stylistic inconsistencies.
The selection committee will scrutinize each application to find the most qualified candidate.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

examine inspect analyze pore over comb through dissect investigate study

examine · a more general term that lacks the intensity and critical focus of scrutinize.

inspect · often implies a formal or official check for quality or compliance with rules.

analyze · focuses on breaking something down into its component parts to understand it.

pore over · suggests a long and absorbed study of a text or document.

Opposites: glance, scan, skim, overlook, ignore

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'scrutinize' has a surprisingly humble origin. It comes from the Latin 'scrutinium', meaning an inquiry or search, which itself derives from 'scrutari', to search or examine. 'Scrutari' originally meant 'to search through trash', from the Latin 'scruta', meaning trash or rags, highlighting the idea of a very thorough search through clutter to find something of value.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

closely scrutinizescrutinize the detailsscrutinize a documentscrutinize the evidencescrutinize someone's motives

'Scrutinize' is a strong, formal verb that implies a much deeper and more critical look than simply 'examining' something. Use it when you want to convey an intense, detailed, and often suspicious inspection. It suggests you are actively looking for flaws, hidden meanings, or specific details that are not immediately apparent. Avoid using it for a quick or casual review.

Word family: scrutiny, scrutinizer

💬 Quick answers

What does it mean to scrutinize something?

It means to examine something in great detail and with careful attention, often because you are looking for a problem, a specific piece of information, or a deeper meaning.

What is the difference between 'scrutinize' and 'examine'?

'Examine' is a more general term for looking at something carefully. 'Scrutinize' is stronger and implies a more intense, critical, and detailed inspection, often with the goal of finding flaws.

Is 'scrutinize' a formal word?

Yes, 'scrutinize' is considered a formal word. In casual conversation, people are more likely to use phrases like 'look over carefully' or 'check closely'.

What is the noun for 'scrutinize'?

The noun form is 'scrutiny'. For example, you could say a new policy is 'under public scrutiny'.

1 word nerd collected it V

Want "scrutinize" to actually stick?

Save it to your own vault, let AI explain it, practice till it's yours.

Start for free →