as in exploratory
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Recent Examples of investigative
The process, governed by the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act, requires law enforcement officials to balance various interests when deciding whether to release a record — including public interest, privacy concerns and investigative value, among other factors.
—
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Relegated, Todd Smith May 19, Gallery Books This book, the story of one American’s immersive, investigative journey into the world of lower division English football (aka soccer), seems lab-designed to satisfy the reading needs of Lit Hub editor Jonny Diamond.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Experts and reporters at the investigative news magazine Mother Jones have found videos showing toddlers swallowing whole grapes (a choking hazard), infants eating honey (which carries a risk of botulism), and children riding unrestrained in the front seat of a moving car.
—Dana Suskind, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Dienst Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York.
—Tom Winter, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
Democrats have questioned whether Vance’s role leading a federal task force would bring political machinations into investigative decisions by the prosecutors looking for fraud.
—Andrew Graham
april 30, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Andy Sachs is now an award-winning investigative reporter, which doesn’t stop her or her team from being fired by group text.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
New details of the July 19, 2025, police shooting and subsequent chase emerged Wednesday after Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Tanya Brinkley allowed the public release of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigative report.
—Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Relegated, Todd Smith May 19, Gallery Books This book, the story of one American’s immersive, investigative journey into the world of lower division English football (aka soccer), seems lab-designed to satisfy the reading needs of Lit Hub editor Jonny Diamond.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Experts and reporters at the investigative news magazine Mother Jones have found videos showing toddlers swallowing whole grapes (a choking hazard), infants eating honey (which carries a risk of botulism), and children riding unrestrained in the front seat of a moving car.
—Dana Suskind, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Dienst Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York.
—Tom Winter, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
Democrats have questioned whether Vance’s role leading a federal task force would bring political machinations into investigative decisions by the prosecutors looking for fraud.
—Andrew Graham
april 30, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Andy Sachs is now an award-winning investigative reporter, which doesn’t stop her or her team from being fired by group text.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
New details of the July 19, 2025, police shooting and subsequent chase emerged Wednesday after Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Tanya Brinkley allowed the public release of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigative report.
—Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigative
Adjective
-
After a two-month exploratory tour, Hamilton, 61, chose to run as a Democrat rather than an independent to avoid splitting votes.—
Hannah Wise,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Pentagon announced the initial, exploratory contracts with Google, OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI in July.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As an experimental device, ITER will not generate electricity for the commercial grid.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
-
One is more of an experimental half-hour comedy.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Marine Fauthoux, one of the team’s developmental players, missed the game with the same designation.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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The plan is still to add another rotational four-man before filling out the rest of the roster with practice players and developmental pieces.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Our system already demands that evidence be relevant and probative.—
Ivan J. Bates,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
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This request is denied since these holes in the factual record, where defendants hold the pertinent backup evidence—should such evidence exist—are actually probative in assessing the reliability and accuracy, or lack thereof, of other representations by defendants about their actions more broadly.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
According to court records, an unsecured bond of $30,000 was set for Mours, who is due to face a preliminary hearing next month.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Steven Jones was shot and killed after his sister called 911 and said he was armed with a knife during a mental health crisis and had cut himself, according to a preliminary report from the Connecticut Office of Inspector General.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Investigative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigative. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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