variants
or reconnoitre
as in to explore
to go to (a place or area) in order to find out information especially about a military enemy; to do a reconnaissance of (a place)
An expedition reconnoitered the coast to find out the exact location of enemy forces.
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Recent Examples of reconnoiter
How Drones Challenge Snipers Unmanned Aircraft Systems, including fiber optic drones, can reconnoiter vast stretches of territory and can use a wide variety of sensors to perform surveillance.
—
Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2026
What kind of action plan is visualized to reconnoiter that object?
—Leonard David, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Thomas Caldwell Thomas Caldwell, a Navy veteran who once worked for the FBI, coordinated a planned armed response and engaged in reconnoitering the Capitol, prosecutors said.
—Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
The paddlers quickly pulled off to the right bank, secured the canoes and set up camp, while a scouting party hacked their way through the brush to reconnoiter.
—Larry Rohter, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2023
Beginning in late 2026, Hera will reconnoiter both Dimorphos and Didymos to take measurements of the rocks and show how DART changed the system.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 29 Mar. 2023
In August, with the approach of spring, the expedition continued to reconnoiter the forbidding coast.
—Gerard Helferich, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022
Along the way the spacecraft will scrutinize Saturn’s mysterious and spectacular rings and reconnoiter its many satellite worlds, especially Titan — the largest moon in the solar system and, it is believed, the only one with its own atmosphere.
—Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2020
Squat under the brush; bend to see around branches and trees; crawl to reconnoiter dense thickets.
46.
—Outdoor Life, 19 Nov. 2019
Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2026
What kind of action plan is visualized to reconnoiter that object?
—Leonard David, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Thomas Caldwell Thomas Caldwell, a Navy veteran who once worked for the FBI, coordinated a planned armed response and engaged in reconnoitering the Capitol, prosecutors said.
—Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023
The paddlers quickly pulled off to the right bank, secured the canoes and set up camp, while a scouting party hacked their way through the brush to reconnoiter.
—Larry Rohter, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2023
Beginning in late 2026, Hera will reconnoiter both Dimorphos and Didymos to take measurements of the rocks and show how DART changed the system.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 29 Mar. 2023
In August, with the approach of spring, the expedition continued to reconnoiter the forbidding coast.
—Gerard Helferich, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2022
Along the way the spacecraft will scrutinize Saturn’s mysterious and spectacular rings and reconnoiter its many satellite worlds, especially Titan — the largest moon in the solar system and, it is believed, the only one with its own atmosphere.
—Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2020
Squat under the brush; bend to see around branches and trees; crawl to reconnoiter dense thickets.
46.
—Outdoor Life, 19 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reconnoiter
Verb
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Cars are banned, so visitors get around on foot or by golf cart; however, the island is arguably best explored by boat.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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And with more than 20 miles of trails on the property to explore, the natural surroundings here cannot help but enhance members’ mental and physical well-being.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
And as the elder Mattingly reverses the team’s poor start to open up his run at the helm, Preston Mattingly has been scouting the next generation of Phillies stars.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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This isn’t a coaching staff decision, but director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett has six weeks left on his contract and has yet to be promoted or extended.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reconnoiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reconnoiter. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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