as in investigations
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something
a congressional probe into the accusations
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in explores
to search through or into
tabloid reporters who seem determined to probe every detail of the singer's private life
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of probes
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 Feb. 2026
As the skirmish continued, the trooper pulled out his Taser and threatened to shock Morales, though the trooper wrote in a probable cause affidavit that Morales was not struck by the probes.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Unlike modern probes that descend on landing legs, Luna 9 jettisoned its orientation modules during descent and fired a braking engine.
—Ilya Ferapontov, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Expanding her probes, Warren is demanding answers from the HHS secretary.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2026
The investigation into last week’s crash comes on top of ongoing probes of Waymo’s robotaxis illegally driving past stopped school buses in Austin and Atlanta.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
In this near-field regime, the light bypasses the diffraction limit and probes nanoscale features.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
The Office of the Inspector General is the investigative arm of county government, with the agency sometimes helping local prosecutors in criminal probes when the allegations stray into potential criminal territory.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Congressional Democrats are now expected to launch talks with the White House on a laundry list of demands around ICE, including requiring agents to stop wearing masks and identify themselves, wear body cameras and agree to independent probes of alleged wrongdoing.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The interim appointment comes a month after the Convention Center Authority parted ways with its former CEO Marcel Vernon, by way of a $500,00 severance agreement, as a state committee probes corruption allegations at the agency.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
In Sentimental Value, the writer-director Joachim Trier probes the real purpose of confessional art.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Aside from the annual financial review, the CSU’s internal auditing process also probes the 23 campuses in its system, including their auxiliaries.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025
As a result of the incident, Chase suffers from memory gaps, which becomes something of a hurdle in the film when director Marina Zenovich probes Chase on his reputation for being difficult, particular incidents with SNL performer Terry Sweeney, and the conclusion of his work on Community.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Underneath the genre frame, the film probes how both families confront loss.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
On its second launch, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket started a pair of NASA probes on a journey to Mars, and had its booster finish its own flight by landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
—PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025
Streep will play veteran New York property market journalist Diane Castle who, disillusioned with writing about the wealthy elite, probes a record-breaking sale of a new penthouse and the buyer’s identity for what could be the story of a lifetime.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
Since mid-2023, at least 50 senior officials in the military and the defence industry have been investigated in corruption probes.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 Feb. 2026
As the skirmish continued, the trooper pulled out his Taser and threatened to shock Morales, though the trooper wrote in a probable cause affidavit that Morales was not struck by the probes.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Unlike modern probes that descend on landing legs, Luna 9 jettisoned its orientation modules during descent and fired a braking engine.
—Ilya Ferapontov, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Expanding her probes, Warren is demanding answers from the HHS secretary.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2026
The investigation into last week’s crash comes on top of ongoing probes of Waymo’s robotaxis illegally driving past stopped school buses in Austin and Atlanta.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
In this near-field regime, the light bypasses the diffraction limit and probes nanoscale features.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
The Office of the Inspector General is the investigative arm of county government, with the agency sometimes helping local prosecutors in criminal probes when the allegations stray into potential criminal territory.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Congressional Democrats are now expected to launch talks with the White House on a laundry list of demands around ICE, including requiring agents to stop wearing masks and identify themselves, wear body cameras and agree to independent probes of alleged wrongdoing.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
The testimony comes as the committee probes Smith's actions during his time as special counsel in the Biden administration.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The interim appointment comes a month after the Convention Center Authority parted ways with its former CEO Marcel Vernon, by way of a $500,00 severance agreement, as a state committee probes corruption allegations at the agency.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
In Sentimental Value, the writer-director Joachim Trier probes the real purpose of confessional art.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Aside from the annual financial review, the CSU’s internal auditing process also probes the 23 campuses in its system, including their auxiliaries.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025
As a result of the incident, Chase suffers from memory gaps, which becomes something of a hurdle in the film when director Marina Zenovich probes Chase on his reputation for being difficult, particular incidents with SNL performer Terry Sweeney, and the conclusion of his work on Community.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Underneath the genre frame, the film probes how both families confront loss.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
On its second launch, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket started a pair of NASA probes on a journey to Mars, and had its booster finish its own flight by landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
—PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025
Streep will play veteran New York property market journalist Diane Castle who, disillusioned with writing about the wealthy elite, probes a record-breaking sale of a new penthouse and the buyer’s identity for what could be the story of a lifetime.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probes
Noun
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State authorities have frequently partnered with the federal government in the past on such investigations and welcome a good-faith partnership in the future, Bonta said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The Amazon-like company has been subjected to a number of investigations, raids, and inspections initiated by the Korea Fair Trade Commission, the country’s primary antitrust regulator, in recent years.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Marie is a thoughtful and engaging teenager who explores their identity and works hard toward becoming a successful and confident adult.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Their film explores the vulnerability of the trans-masculine community by delving into Bean and Rozos’ own personal experiences, intertwined with the delights, challenges, and tragedy within Brockington and Prescott’s lives.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Seamus Heaney’s poetry has long been treated as a kind of sacred text in Ireland, recited in schools, memorialized in public spaces, and invoked whenever the island searches for language equal to its own complexity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But Phia also pays attention to what each user typically searches for.—
Alexandra York,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Callers even got their inquiries answered on the days bracketing Christmas.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
There is no rental fee for reserving a golf bay, but inquiries ahead of time are required and a food and beverage minimum will apply.—
Bee staff
February 6,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.—
Cassandra Jaramillo,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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Consistent with all applicable laws, NSA investigates any mishandling or unauthorized disclosure of intelligence and partners closely with Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure the necessary steps are taken to hold those accountable.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Yet, over a dozen states are moving forward with their own explorations of legality — like treatment for heroin patients or veterans only — or funding research through clinical trials, according to the advocacy group Americans for Ibogaine.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
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At the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, overwater bungalows spaced far apart encourage secluded explorations of the land and ocean—lagoon swims, sunset walks, and lazy afternoons.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The university described Sport Impact Jax as a research initiative that examines sports and communities.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and this film examines the humanity that exists within it.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But those examinations and other fees associated with the deal eventually saw the move collapse.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Women who brought the lawsuits said the university ignored their complaints and deliberately concealed abuse that happened for decades during examinations at the UCLA student health center, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center or in Heaps’ campus office.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Probes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probes. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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