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 Bend Police Department remains the lead investigative agency, Schmidt said. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Further investigative projects are being developed around exclusive access to compelling real-life stories. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 This is the second installment of The Receipts, a CBS California investigative series examining consultant spending, oversight and influence over the state's multibillion-dollar high-speed rail project. — Tyler Horst, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 On Wednesday, the FTC sent out civil investigative demands seeking a wide range of information from the AI firms on recent safety incidents. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026 But a lot of times that blends into investigative journalism as well. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 Advertisement The judicial search warrant, which is under seal, was executed by Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. — Philip Wang, Time, 14 Oct. 2026 The Justice Department has historically tried to avoid public investigative actions involving candidates within 60 days of an election. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Dateline Canada on Citytv and Citytv+ will be hosted by Diana Swain, a former senior investigative correspondent for CBC News and host of The Investigators on the CBC News Network in Canada. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigative
  1. exploratory
  2. experimental
  3. developmental
  4. probative
  5. preliminary
Adjective
  • No efforts have ever progressed beyond the exploratory stage.
    — Stefanie Dazio, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The pair made an exploratory trip to Korea around this time last year to meet people in the local industry and ask what role Gold House could play.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of exploratory
Adjective
  • On Uncle, fish narc sheds his past experimental impulses and finds a new identity within ebullient, feel-good college rock.
    — Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Spanish scientists have developed an experimental type of self-disinfecting cotton fabric, which is activated via ordinary white light.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of experimental
Adjective
  • Scouting and developmental programs would become overwhelmingly vital overnight.
    — Isaac Tellechea, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • California spends billions of dollars each year on developmental services, including support for people with autism.
    — Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 13 Oct. 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
  • There are also plans afoot by the French defense procurement agency (DGA) called SNA3G, which are preliminary plans for an eventual replacement of the Suffren-class in the future.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Martelly’s name was among 16 listed Friday on the Provisional Electoral Council’s website as having preliminary registered to run.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of preliminary

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investigative
investigator
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Cite this Entry

“Investigative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigative. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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