investigating
Seeking the truth
Investigating is examining something closely to uncover facts or determine the truth.
Police investigate crimes, journalists investigate scandals, and scientists investigate phenomena.
The word implies methodical inquiry—gathering evidence, questioning sources, following leads: They're investigating what caused the explosion.
To be under investigation is to be the subject of such scrutiny.
Thorough examination or tool
- inspectStudy closely for flaws
- analyzeStudy by breaking down
- reviewCritical written assessment
- assessJudge worth or quality
evaluate · scrutinize · audit · observe · check · test · survey · dissect
Testable proposed explanation
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- dataFacts for analysis
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- studyDeliberate learning effort
publication · laboratory · empirical · methodology · findings · evidence · statistics · qualitative
Private investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- private eyeHired investigator, unlicensed
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
- PoirotFictional Belgian detective
Marlowe · Holmes · Miss Marple · noir · stakeout · surveillance · undercover · tail
Investigative journalism piece
- scoopFirst-reported story
- sourcePoint of origin
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- deep throatComplete oral insertion
Watergate · muckraking · undercover · documents · leaked · corruption · scandal · cover-up
Seeking answers through inquiry
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- fact-findingSeeking verified information
- interviewingFormal questioning session
cross-examination · canvassing · vetting · auditing · debriefing · testimony · hearing · deposition
Location of an offense
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
DNA profiling · toxicology · blood spatter · trace evidence · serology · entomology · pathology · odontology
probe
Thorough examination or tool
assess · evaluate · scrutinize · audit · observe · check · test · survey · dissect · sift
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- dataFacts for analysis
- analysisMethodical study of parts
study · publication · laboratory · empirical · methodology · findings · evidence · statistics · qualitative · quantitative
sleuth
Private investigator
- gumshoeInformal term for detective
- private eyeHired investigator, unlicensed
- SherlockIconic Victorian-era investigator
Poirot · Marlowe · Holmes · Miss Marple · noir · stakeout · surveillance · undercover · tail · shadowing
exposé
Investigative journalism piece
- scoopFirst-reported story
- sourcePoint of origin
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
deep throat · Watergate · muckraking · undercover · documents · leaked · corruption · scandal · cover-up · fact-checking
questioning
Seeking answers through inquiry
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- fact-findingSeeking verified information
interviewing · cross-examination · canvassing · vetting · auditing · debriefing · testimony · hearing · deposition · subpoena
crime scene
Location of an offense
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
ballistics · DNA profiling · toxicology · blood spatter · trace evidence · serology · entomology · pathology · odontology · reconstruction
- researchstudy, research papers, researching, archive, peer review
- discoveryfind, finding, discovery, discover, finding out
- investigationdetective, evidence, clue, case, suspect
- searchingsearching, rummaging, digging, looking through, finding
- statusespending, active, approved, inactive, completed
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, contemplate
investigatingignoring
Deliberately not noticing
disregarding · overlooking · neglecting · turning a blind eye · dismissing
investigatingaccepting
Willing to receive
taking at face value · assuming · believing · trusting · presuming
investigatingconcealing
Keeping something secret
hiding · covering up · suppressing · burying · obscuring
- 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
- federal investigationOfficial government criminal inquiry
investigation, investigative, investigations, reinvestigation, investigational