verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈskɹuːtɨnaɪz/
General-American:skro͞otʹn-īz
General-American:/ˈskɹutn̩ˌaɪz/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S K R UW1 T AH0 N AY2 Z
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To examine something with great care or detail, as to look for hidden or obscure flaws.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
to scrutinize the conduct or motives of individuals
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To audit accounts etc in order to verify them.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification
to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he scrutinized his likeness in the mirror
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: size up, take stock, scrutinise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: examine, see
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English scrutiny Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English scrutinize From scrutiny + -ize.
Across languages
Translations
74 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
զննել
(znnel)
— to examine with great care
Armenian:
քննել
(kʻnnel)
— to examine with great care
Armenian:
մանրամասն ուսումնասիրել
(manramasn usumnasirel)
— to examine with great care
Bulgarian:
изследвам подробно
(izsledvam podrobno)
— to examine with great care
Catalan:
escrutar
— to examine with great care
Czech:
prohlédnout
— to examine with great care
Czech:
prověřovat
— to examine with great care
Danish:
granske
— to examine with great care
Esperanto:
trarigardi
— to examine with great care
Finnish:
tarkastaa
— to examine with great care
Finnish:
tutkia tarkasti
— to examine with great care
Finnish:
tutkia tarkoin
— to examine with great care
Finnish:
tarkastella
— to examine with great care
French:
scruter
— to examine with great care
Galician:
escrutar
— to examine with great care
Galician:
escudriñar
— to examine with great care
German:
gründlich prüfen
— to examine with great care
German:
hinterfragen
— to examine with great care
German:
gewissenhaft überprüfen
— to examine with great care
German:
ergründen
— to examine with great care
German:
zerlegen
— to examine with great care
German:
zerpflücken
— to examine with great care
Greek:
περιεργάζομαι
(periergázomai)
— to examine with great care
Greek:
κοιτάω από πάνω μέχρι κάτω
(koitáo apó páno méchri káto)
— to examine with great care
Hungarian:
tüzetesen megvizsgál
— to examine with great care
Icelandic:
gaumgæfa
— to examine with great care
Irish:
iniúch
— to examine with great care
Italian:
esaminare
— to examine with great care
Italian:
indagare
— to examine with great care
Japanese:
精査する
(seisa-suru)
— to examine with great care
Japanese:
眇める
(sugameru)
— to examine with great care
Latin:
scrūtor
— to examine with great care
Malay:
meneliti
— to examine with great care
Malay:
menyelidiki
— to examine with great care
Māori:
whakatātare
— to examine with great care
Māori:
whakatare
— to examine with great care
Māori:
whakataretare
— to examine with great care
Māori:
matawai
— to examine with great care
Norwegian:
granske
— to examine with great care
Occitan:
escrutinhar
— to examine with great care
Occitan:
escrutar
— to examine with great care
Occitan:
escrutinar
— to examine with great care
Old English:
sceawian
— to examine with great care
Portuguese:
escrutinar
— to examine with great care
Portuguese:
escrutinizar
— to examine with great care
Portuguese:
esquadrinhar
— to examine with great care
Portuguese:
perscrutar
— to examine with great care
Portuguese:
perquirir
— to examine with great care
Portuguese:
esmiuçar
— to examine with great care
Russian:
тща́тельно проверя́ть
(tščátelʹno proverjátʹ)
— to examine with great care
Russian:
тща́тельно иссле́довать
(tščátelʹno isslédovatʹ)
— to examine with great care
Slovak:
preveriť
— to examine with great care
Slovak:
preskúmať
— to examine with great care
Spanish:
escrutar
— to examine with great care
Spanish:
escudriñar
— to examine with great care
Spanish:
escrudiñar
— to examine with great care
Spanish:
escrutiñar
— to examine with great care
Spanish:
zahoriar
— to examine with great care
Swedish:
granska
— to examine with great care
Swedish:
mönstra
— to examine with great care
Swedish:
nagelfara
— to examine with great care
Swedish:
skärskåda
— to examine with great care
Swedish:
lusläsa
— to examine with great care
Swedish:
syna
— to examine with great care
Tagalog:
balukitkitin
— to examine with great care
Telugu:
పరిశీలించు
(pariśīliñcu)
— to examine with great care
Turkish:
irdelemek
— to examine with great care
Turkish:
tetkik etmek
— to examine with great care
Ottoman Turkish:
سوزمك
(süzmek)
— to examine with great care