probing 1 of 2

noun

as in investigation
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something questionings and probings by several committees into the affair

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probing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of probe
1
as in exploring
to search through or into tabloid reporters who seem determined to probe every detail of the singer's private life

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2
as in searching
to go into or range over for purposes of discovery probing the depths of the undersea trench

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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 probing
Noun
There was Wall Street Journal reporter Josh Dawsey, accepting an award for his relentless probing of the White House. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 25 July 2026 But neither of them seemed eager to undergo much emotional probing. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 Mission two was to do a lot of listening, a lot of probing, a lot of asking questions, skip levels to really understand the opportunity for the go forward, but also embrace what makes TIAA incredibly special. — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 22 June 2026 Davis’ ability to reflect and respond with his pithy probing of the disagreeing chord turned chaos into something cogent. — Steven D. Reske, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026 It’s composed of 22 bilaterally symmetric appendages that ring the nostrils and move independently, sweeping the substrate in continuous probing arcs. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 Here’s a probing, exclusive, in-depth conversation Benn had with The Athletic following Monday’s practice. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026 The hosts also talk about Prasad’s second exit from the FDA and a congressman’s probing of the agency’s rare disease drug denials. — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026 To this end, the event was likely either a misunderstanding or a deliberate probing of China’s aerial defense response. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
Children choose their own data, probing the world with little experiments rather than passively absorbing it and learn continuously. — Charles Yeomans, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Drawing on economics and game theory, and using tools that range from fluorescent quantum dots to imaging robots, her lab is probing how fungi and plants conduct their trade. — Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 Trump continues to argue that America’s top priority is investing in AI innovation, not probing US frontier labs working out the kinks at breakneck speeds. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026 In keeping with that anal imagery, the movie often calls to mind a colonoscopy, from the probing POV of the endoscopic camera. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 The Justice Department plans to appeal the latest ruling, and its antitrust division is also probing the five major TV networks over how the White House TV pool operates. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 Last ⁠week, for example, ​shares of online trading platform Webull dropped to a near four-month low after a congressional panel published a report probing its ties to ​China. — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 Distributed by Hive Media Corp, the drama reconstructs the August 15, 1974 assassination attempt on President Park Chung-hee and stars Yu Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho as figures probing contradictions in the state’s official inquiry. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Soon, however, the Kings’ fondness for probing the strangest possible intersections of legal practice pushes Cupertino in odd and hilarious directions. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probing
  1. investigation
  2. exploring
  3. searching
  4. inquiry
  5. investigating
  6. examination
  7. examining
  8. exploration
Noun
  • The State Law Enforcement Division didn't say if their investigation into any of the men is continuing.
    — MEG KINNARD, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In January, the FBI raided a Post reporter’s home, as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of mishandling sensitive national security information.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of investigation
Verb
  • This latest round of funding supports an exciting range of projects from emerging creatives forging new paths to established voices exploring new creative territory.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • After exploring or relaxing by the pool, head to the freestanding infrared sauna with optional salt halotherapy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of exploring
Verb
  • Police are searching for a man in connection with the shooting.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The Coast Guard and Navy are searching the waters using multiple aircraft and boats, along with assistance from the Mexican navy.
    — Mikella Schuettler, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of searching
Noun
  • Waddhwa moved to strike a film development deal around the incident after getting unsolicited inquiries from Indian media firms.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Many of Netanyahu’s electoral rivals, including Eisenkot, have promised to immediately establish an independent commission of inquiry if elected.
    — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of inquiry
Verb
  • The Spanish government is investigating accusations detailed in an Amnesty International report of mistreatment and torture by Spanish soldiers.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The Cobb County Police Department said its major crimes unit is investigating the incident.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of investigating
Noun
  • If Fielder is again playing a version of himself here, Holmes seems to be offering near infinite versions of herself up for examination, like a set of unblinking reflections in a hall of funhouse mirrors.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The search and forensic examination of the property remain ongoing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of examination
Verb
  • The whole season is examining that question for Kate and, in a way, for all of them.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • However, investigators were still examining the incident as of that update.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of examining
Noun
  • Architects have long toyed with shipping containers as objects of exploration, deploying these off-the-shelf metal structures for a wide variety of uses.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Two months of virtual-production exploration before filming also allowed Fraser and the directors to test lighting, camera movements and the scale of spacecraft interiors.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of exploration

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Cite this Entry

“Probing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probing. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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