investigative

adjective

Definition of investigativenext
as in exploratory

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of investigative The siren did not sound during the incident, a witness said, an investigative finding Smith did not address. — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026 Police identified the suspect through investigative work conducted after the incident, according to the post. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 Among the honors, The Times swept the investigative category for newspapers, receiving first, second and third-place honors. — Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 Not responding to minority investigative requests for documents and testimony isn’t normally a crime without a subpoena compelling the action. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 July 2026 Police said Lane was arrested on Monday after receiving information through numerous investigative methods. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 The failures that kept mechanics from taking a close look at the key parts securing the engines to the wings were highlighted at two days of investigative hearings on the crash in May, but the documents released Wednesday provide additional details. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in the new filing defended his agency’s decision to withhold millions of investigative files, saying that releasing more materials would harm Epstein’s victims and the government. — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigative
  1. exploratory
  2. experimental
  3. developmental
  4. probative
  5. preliminary
Adjective
  • And Disneyland’s recent attraction updates have by and large been winners, as evidenced by the lovely Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the exploratory Adventureland Treehouse and the bewitching Snow White’s Enchanted Wish.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • The exploratory committee will take about a year to complete its work.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 June 2026
Definition of exploratory
Adjective
  • To verify what was happening inside the material, the team combined several experimental techniques.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
  • All three have released solo albums that further expand their palettes, moving into ambient (Vida), experimental (Stardrum), and singer/songwriter (Epstein) realms.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 3 July 2026
Definition of experimental
Adjective
  • Here was a government that had explicitly borrowed from Beijing’s developmental playbook and sincerely attempted to imitate it, but failed.
    — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Before that, people with mental illnesses or developmental and intellectual disabilities were largely confined to institutions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of developmental
Adjective
  • Legal professionals must carefully weigh the probative value against potential juror backlash, educate the jury on the evidence's legitimacy, and consider whether to integrate AI chats cautiously or even forgo them entirely.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Our system already demands that evidence be relevant and probative.
    — Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of probative
Adjective
  • Prominent civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner, who are representing the family of Kohen Wiley, released preliminary findings from the independent autopsy during a news conference on July 1.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The sheriff's office says a preliminary investigation found that workers were installing underground tanks.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of preliminary

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investigative
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Cite this Entry

“Investigative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigative. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on investigative

Nglish: Translation of investigative for Spanish Speakers

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