scrutinize
- To examine or inspect something very carefully and critically.
In a sentence
- The auditors scrutinized every transaction in the company's financial records.
- Fans and critics alike scrutinized the director's latest film for hidden symbolism.
Usage note. 'Scrutinize' implies a slow, deliberate, often skeptical inspection; it is stronger than 'examine' and suggests a desire to find flaws or verify accuracy.
Where it comes from
English scrutinize · entered English 17th c.
Derived from 'scrutiny', which came from Latin 'scrutinium' (a careful search), from 'scrutari' (to search through, examine), possibly originally meaning 'to sort through rags'. The verb form 'scrutinize' appeared in English in the 17th century.