investigative

adjective

Definition of investigativenext
as in exploratory

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigative
  1. exploratory
  2. experimental
  3. developmental
  4. probative
  5. preliminary
Adjective
  • Photo: Office of Tangible Space Still, the majority of Angelenos who are looking are most likely still in an exploratory phase.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Lara is renowned for his ability to meld traditional Latin sounds with exploratory electronic elements and kitschy Mexican folk.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of exploratory
Adjective
  • After separating from the first stage, the upper portion of the New Glenn rocket, carrying the experimental Blue Ring technology, fired up its own engine and continued to propel itself into orbit.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The instruments aboard Firefly's lander include a subsurface drill, an X-ray imager, and an experimental electrodynamic dust shield to test methods of repelling troublesome lunar dust from accumulating on sensitive spacecraft components.
    Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2025
Definition of experimental
Adjective
  • That said, the details a parent offers, as well as a child’s reaction, will vary greatly by developmental stage.
    Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
  • The Huskers still strive to be known as a developmental program.
    Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of developmental
Adjective
  • Fulbright shepherded the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through the Senate in 1964, but two years later, his probative hearings helped shift public opinion against the war.
    James Goldgeier, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2018
  • The length of the trial was due to a combination of appeals and the prosecution’s strategy to present as much evidence as possible to entertain multiple paths to conviction, even when such evidence was of little probative value.
    Tatiana Carayannis, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2016
Definition of probative
Adjective
  • The consequences of that billion-dollar settlement, which first saw preliminary approval by Judge Claudia Wilken of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in October, 2024, were of the utmost importance for Seemes.
    Cory Mull, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
  • According to a preliminary estimate from AccuWeather, the wildfires are the costliest in U.S. history, with the damage being valued between $135 billion and $150 billion.
    Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Jan. 2025
Definition of preliminary
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near investigative

investigations

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 Jan. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of investigative for Spanish Speakers

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