investigates
Digs for answers
Investigates is the act of examining something closely to uncover facts or understand what happened.
Police investigate crimes, journalists investigate corruption, scientists investigate phenomena.
The word implies methodical inquiry—gathering evidence, asking questions, following leads: The committee investigates allegations of fraud.
To investigate is to look beneath the surface.
Seeking answers through inquiry
- probeThorough examination or tool
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- fact-findingSeeking verified information
- interviewFormal questioning session
hearing · deposition · cross-examination · testimony · affidavit · corroboration · subpoena · tribunal
Facts supporting truth
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
toxicology · bloodstains · serology · pathology · coroner · reconstruction · specimens · fibers
Formal accounts examination
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- reviewCritical written assessment
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
evaluation · vetting · screening · compliance · accountability · transparency · watchdog · regulatory
Hints toward answers
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- PoirotFictional Belgian detective
Marlowe · Holmes · noir · whodunit · mystery · undercover · stakeout · surveillance
Challenge testing ingenuity
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
- clueSolving aid
- decipherConvert code to plaintext
- unravelSeparate intertwined strands
crack · deduce · elucidate · enigma · breakthrough · conundrum · uncovering · revelation
Deliberate learning effort
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- dataFacts for analysis
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
laboratory · methodology · ethnography · analysis · qualitative · quantitative · variables · sampling
questioning
Seeking answers through inquiry
- probeThorough examination or tool
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- fact-findingSeeking verified information
interview · hearing · deposition · cross-examination · testimony · affidavit · corroboration · subpoena · tribunal · inquest
evidence
Facts supporting truth
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- autopsyMedical examination after death
ballistics · toxicology · bloodstains · serology · pathology · coroner · reconstruction · specimens · fibers · splatter
audit
Formal accounts examination
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- reviewCritical written assessment
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
monitoring · evaluation · vetting · screening · compliance · accountability · transparency · watchdog · regulatory · checks
clues
Hints toward answers
- sleuthPrivate investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
Poirot · Marlowe · Holmes · noir · whodunit · mystery · undercover · stakeout · surveillance · tail
puzzle
Challenge testing ingenuity
unravel · crack · deduce · elucidate · enigma · breakthrough · conundrum · uncovering · revelation · riddle
study
Deliberate learning effort
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- dataFacts for analysis
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
fieldwork · laboratory · methodology · ethnography · analysis · qualitative · quantitative · variables · sampling · replication
- mental actionsthinks, considers, understands, perceives, recognizes
investigatesignores
Refuses to acknowledge
overlooks · disregards · neglects · dismisses · avoids
investigatesconceals
Keeps from being seen
covers up · hides · suppresses · buries · obscures
investigatesaccepts
Consents to receive
assumes · takes for granted · presumes · takes at face value · believes
- private investigatorHired non-police detective
- congressional investigationLawmakers probing governmental matters
- under investigationSubject to formal inquiry
- criminal investigationOfficial probe into lawbreaking
- police investigationOfficial probe into wrongdoing
- preliminary investigationInquiry before formal proceedings
investigate, investigation, investigator, investigated, investigating, investigative, investigations, investigators, reinvestigate