verb
also scru·ti·nise ˈskrüt ə nˌīz also -üd.əˌnīz or -ütəˌnīz
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: scrutiny + -ize
transitive verb
: to subject to scrutiny : examine closely : inspect
scrutinized the inscription as if it were stubbornly withholding from them some information that they ought to possess — J.B.Benefield
scrutinized herself eagerly and long in her mirror — Robert Grant †1940
knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize … our own — Margaret Mead
intransitive verb
: to make a scrutiny
come … to perceive and apprehend, or, as critics, to scrutinize and evaluate — R.W.Stallman
Synonyms:
scrutinize , scan , inspect , examine , and audit can mean, in common, to look at or look over critically and searchingly. scrutinize implies close observation and attention to minute detail
the immigration officials carefully scrutinized the passengers' entry permits — Robert Sherrod
manufacturers must scrutinize every possible way to lower production costs — Steel
scan implies a survey from point to point, often suggesting a cursory overall observation
stooping over as he went, his eyes scanning every foot of the ground — O.E.Rölvaag
took his duties seriously, attending meetings and scanning reports from every corporation minutely — A.F.Harlow
had drawn out their telescopes and were scanning the mountain above us — H.D.Quillin
a scheme whereby all journals would be scanned and indexed on receipt — American Documentation
to scan the headlines over breakfast
inspect in general use implies little more than careful observation, but in legal, military, governmental, or industrial use implies a searching scrutiny for errors, defects, or shortcomings
ruefully inspected himself after trying on his first white tie and tails — Flora Lewis
extension of credit is by installments, and projects financed are inspected by members of the bank's staff — E.L.Smith
freshly picked grapes are inspected and cleansed before delivery — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
examine implies a close scrutiny or investigation to determine the facts about or real nature or condition of a thing or to test the thing's quality, truth, validity, and so on
ever bothered to examine the serial number on a bank note — Irish Digest
when personality is examined as closely and candidly as it has been in the twentieth-century novel — Robert Humphrey
undying trivialities which the public find romantic without seeking to examine them for truth — J.F.Gore
speakers examined great world religions to discover to what extent faith in them encouraged their adherents to escape from life, to exploit life, or to redeem it — Christmas Humphreys
audit applies to a searching examination of accounts to determine their correctness, sometimes extending to any accounting examination
each bank is audited annually by a certified public accountant — Safety for Your Savings
audit a company's books
the scandal manages to shake up the other people into auditing their close-to-bankrupt lives — Time