To scrutinize means to examine something very carefully and critically, looking at every detail. When you scrutinize a document, you read it slowly and thoroughly, checking for errors or hidden meanings. When a detective scrutinizes a crime scene, she studies every clue with intense focus, noticing things others might miss.

The word means examining something with a critical eye, often searching for problems or trying to understand something complex. A teacher might scrutinize your essay to see if your argument makes sense. A scientist scrutinizes experimental data to make sure the results are accurate. When you scrutinize your friend's face after they say “I'm fine,” you're looking for signs that reveal how they really feel.

Scrutiny (the noun form) can feel uncomfortable when you're the one being examined. Athletes face public scrutiny when cameras follow their every move. But scrutiny also protects us: health inspectors scrutinize restaurants to keep food safe, and editors scrutinize articles to catch mistakes before publication.

The key to scrutinizing well is patience and attention to detail. You can't rush it. When something important is at stake, like choosing the right answer on a difficult test question, taking time to scrutinize your options can make the difference between success and a careless mistake.