Thesaurus results for PROBE

Q: How does the verb 'probe' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of probe are enter , penetrate , and pierce . While all these words mean "to make way into something," probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge. // probed the depths of the sea

Q: When is it sensible to use 'enter' instead of 'probe'?

In some situations, the words enter and probe are roughly equivalent. However, enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in. // entered the city in triumph

Q: When is 'penetrate' a more appropriate choice than 'probe'?

The meanings of penetrate and probe largely overlap; however, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance. // the enemy penetrated the fortress

Q: When might 'pierce' be a better fit than 'probe'?

While in some cases nearly identical to probe , pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument. // pierced the boil with a lancet

probe 1 of 2

noun

ˈprōb

Definition of probe

as in investigation

a systematic search for the truth or facts about something a congressional probe into the accusations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

probe

2 of 2

verb

as in to investigate

to search through or into tabloid reporters who seem determined to probe every detail of the singer's private life

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to explore

to go into or range over for purposes of discovery probing the depths of the undersea trench

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb probe differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of probe are enter, penetrate, and pierce. While all these words mean "to make way into something," probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

When is it sensible to use enter instead of probe?

In some situations, the words enter and probe are roughly equivalent. However, enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

When is penetrate a more appropriate choice than probe?

The meanings of penetrate and probe largely overlap; however, penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

When might pierce be a better fit than probe?

While in some cases nearly identical to probe, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

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 probe

Noun

The company cut ties with Santos after federal investigators launched the probe into his betting. — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 As part of the probe, investigators took samples of an unidentified coating on the rails near the crash and submitted it for analysis. — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

Directors are also the ones who ask the challenging questions, who probe and search for inconsistencies. — Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The city Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine his cause of death as cops continue to probe the incident. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for probe

Recent Examples of Synonyms for probe

Noun

Multiple agencies from surrounding cities helped with the investigation.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
According to a report from LASD released Tuesday, no arrests were made during the search and seizure and the investigation into the Arcadia business is ongoing.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of investigation

Verb

Mice on semaglutide explored more, balanced longer on a rotating rod, ran farther on a treadmill and solved a maze faster—gains that held even after the researchers accounted for the animals just being leaner than their peers.

— Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
Art requires some neutrality to find its voice, but a building dedicated to the exploration of narrative shouldn’t stop exploring just when its storytelling begins.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of explore

Noun

Then walk through the inquiry, response, sales process, onboarding, delivery, billing and follow-up.

— Joe Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
The more generative thing was to think about wildly different experiences in terms of content, but ones that are aligned in terms of question and inquiry.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of inquiry

Verb

Movie night this past week was Taylor Sheridan’s Wind River, an absolutely devastating neo-Western that examines the injustice many Native American women face on and off the reservation.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Now, in this new study, the international team examined the curious fossil under cross-polarized light, allowing more of its structure to be visible.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of examine

Verb

Florida Highway Patrol troopers are continuing to search for the hit-and-run driver, according to Florida Today.

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Every time an employee asks AI to summarize a meeting, rewrite an email, analyze a spreadsheet or search through thousands of internal documents, the company is paying for another unit of intelligence.

— Tiffany Chang, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of search

Noun

Swelling and spinal shock can cloud the earliest neurological picture, and physicians repeat examinations over time for good reason, as many people once given a grave prognosis go on to recover.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Brown is scheduled to travel with the major-league team back to Chicago after Wednesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks for further examination.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of examination

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probatory

probe

probed

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Style

“Probe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probe. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of probe

noun

verb

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