Word
scrutinize
Phoneticsscru·ti·nize
/ˈskɹutəˌnaɪz/
UK spelling · scrutinise
Definition
v. to look at something very carefully to find small details or mistakes. You do this when you want to make sure everything is correct or safe.
v. to examine something very carefully and in detail, typically to detect flaws, errors, or hidden information. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“The police will scrutinize the security footage for any clues.”
“The committee will scrutinize the budget proposal to ensure every dollar is spent wisely.”
“Under the intense glare of the media, the candidate's every word was scrutinized for any hint of inconsistency or political bias.”
Examples
simple
“The police will scrutinize the security footage for any clues.”
contextual
“The committee will scrutinize the budget proposal to ensure every dollar is spent wisely.”
complex
“Under the intense glare of the media, the candidate's every word was scrutinized for any hint of inconsistency or political bias.”
Real-World Examples
Common in culture writing
“The findings of Dr Blake's review will be closely scrutinised.” “It’s a matter of procedure, a discussion “for internal use”, Hegarty assures her, in an opening exchange where every comment sparks suspicion and even the correct pronunciation of bourbon biscuit is scrutinised.” Etymology
From scrutiny + -ize.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/scrutinize