1
as in investigation
a systematic search for the truth or facts about something
an inquiry into the origins of the universe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in request
an act or instance of asking for information
one student made a hesitant inquiry about the assignment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inquiry
Since the city adopted the video release policy more than a decade ago, experience has repeatedly demonstrated the fallacy of limiting inquiry to the precise moment when a police officer fires their gun.
—
Jamie Kalven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
The stabbing unfolded in the Barnet area, near Golders Green, which is known for its large Jewish community, and police said one line of inquiry is whether the attack deliberately targeted London’s Jewish community, though a motive has not been confirmed.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
After media inquiries to city officials and Philadelphia Gas Works, a repair crew arrived within hours and filled the sinkhole.
—Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Police inquiries are ongoing, but so far nobody has been arrested or charged.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inquiry
Jamie Kalven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
The stabbing unfolded in the Barnet area, near Golders Green, which is known for its large Jewish community, and police said one line of inquiry is whether the attack deliberately targeted London’s Jewish community, though a motive has not been confirmed.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
After media inquiries to city officials and Philadelphia Gas Works, a repair crew arrived within hours and filled the sinkhole.
—Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Police inquiries are ongoing, but so far nobody has been arrested or charged.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inquiry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inquiry
Noun
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The person who confirmed the FBI’s search was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Investigators recovered a 9 mm SIG Sauer handgun, according to the filing, and seized electronic devices as part of the investigation.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
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In February, opponents packed the City Hall chambers ahead of a planned Historic Preservation Board meeting, which was ultimately deferred at the Fontainebleau’s request after one of the board members didn’t show up.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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Virginia’s Democratic attorney general, Jay Jones, urged the state Supreme Court to pause the lower court’s order and allow certification of the election to resume, a request the commonwealth’s high court denied on Tuesday.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Jamie Bell has his best chance at major award hardware since his Billy Elliot days as the protagonist of Richard Gadd’s violent examination of masculinity in Half Man.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
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An examination of tree rings confirmed that a red aurora had occurred in China between 1200 and 1201 CE.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
Noun
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These questions have been haunting Hong Kong for over forty years, about as long as Pau has been making art.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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Although Abel will be driving the meeting, Berkshire shareholders are likely to still poise a wide variety of questions to the company’s leadership.—
Yun Li,Alex Harring,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Noun
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During his party’s long and far-ranging exploration of North America, Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
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Six Flags will retheme the Whistlestop Train to Taz’s Tasmanian Train Tours, which will offer exploration of the island’s wilderness.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The museum published an email address to which queries could be sent; the Art Newspaper reports that messages sent to that address bounced back.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
1 May 2026
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Both the query and the data source are encrypted, helping ensure data privacy.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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An earlier study, published in the American Economic Journal, found that field-office closures led to a sixteen-per-cent decline in disability recipients in the surrounding areas.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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Two smaller studies presented at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in April found survival benefits to giving daraxonrasib as part of first-line therapy.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
6 May 2026
Noun
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That includes the probe into the king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, over accusations of misconduct in public office in connection with allegations of sharing confidential trade documents with Epstein.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
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Innlandet County includes a rural area where two private citizens located a smaller collection of 19 silver coins on April 10, triggering the wider archaeological probe that uncovered thousands more.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inquiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inquiry. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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