SEARCHING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

searching

verb

present participle of search

as in combing

to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something archaeologists have begun to search the southern end of the valley, where they believe the underground tombs are located

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exploring

to go into or range over for purposes of discovery the Spanish conquistadors searched vast areas of the Southwest in their quest for the fabled cities of gold

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 searching However, health officials are searching for other potential products that may be making people sick as cases continue to climb. — CNN Money, 28 July 2026 Ellington filed an order of protection in 2023 against a person who allegedly had circulated his neighborhood and property with a gun, searching for the then-council member. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026 For golfers searching for a premier destination in Portugal—or anywhere in Europe, Terras da Comporta has quickly established itself as one of the continent's most compelling new golf experiences. — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 When Mike Tomlin resigned last winter, leaving the Steelers searching for a coach for the first time in almost two decades, McCarthy emerged as a contender. — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026 The two got engaged in 2024, and a year later Frausto got to searching for a location to get married. — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026 The law enforcement teams searching Arkansas businesses also gave out educational materials to help business owners identify skimming devices, the release states. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 27 July 2026 CFOs are increasingly being tapped to steer AI value creation—many are still searching for a viable scorecard for what’s working. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 20 July 2026 As the piece fades into the distance, Lee is still sliding around the beat, still searching. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for searching

Verb

This led to years of combing through the Pan Am and Coast Guard archives in search of clues about the location of the plane's wreckage.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Authorities are still combing through the Bédar area in search for any victims.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026

Definition of combing

Verb

Campbell has published nine books since 2015, exploring testosterone optimization, intermittent fasting, fat loss and performance, positioning himself as an educator in a field that was still largely unfamiliar to mainstream audiences.

— Dr. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Choosing the right organization, checking donation guidelines and exploring local giving options can help your furniture continue serving a purpose while supporting people in your community.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026

Definition of exploring

Verb

After being subject to waivers, Land was claimed by the Indianapolis Colts and spent a season-and-a-half elsewhere before finding his way back to Dallas midway through the 2025 season.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
Kansas City’s starting goalkeeper, Lorena, has been appreciative of finding community in the city for her wife and their 12-year-old son.

— PJ Green July 24, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026

Definition of finding

Verb

The investigators use tools such as X‑ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and laser ablation mass spectrometry.

— Gabriela Sa Pessoa, Fortune, 24 July 2026
The 17-story-tall South Hangar was built in 1942 to house blimps patrolling the West Coast during World War II, scanning for Japanese submarines.

— Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 24 July 2026

Definition of scanning

Verb

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating an at-risk missing 13-year-old last seen early Wednesday morning in the La Riviera neighborhood.

— Reeti Malhotra July 22, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
The Boise Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing teenager.

— Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 21 July 2026

Definition of locating

Verb

This might mean alerting the client to a potential geopolitical shock or surveying their target audience’s core preferences or recommending product marketing campaigns that address those preferences.

— Will Johnson, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Notice how often his head is swiveling, surveying the field over each shoulder.

— Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026

Definition of surveying

Verb

The Lauensteins, who spent years scouring architectural salvage sites for items including wrought iron, hardware, lighting and doors to decorate their home, largely stewarded the transformation, with occasional guidance from interior designers.

— R. Daniel Foster, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
More than 900 participants signed up for last year’s Python Challenge, and potentially as many are currently scouring for snakes amid the 2026 competition.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 July 2026