The word “explore” means to travel through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it or to investigate something thoroughly. Some synonyms for “explore” are “investigate”, “probe”, “scrutinize”, and “examine”.
“Investigate” implies a systematic and detailed inquiry. For example, “The scientists are investigating the effects of climate change.” This shows that the scientists are conducting a thorough study to understand the impacts of climate change.
“Probe” suggests a more in-depth and searching examination. “The journalist probed into the scandal.” Here, the journalist is delving deeply into the matter to uncover the truth.
“Scrutinize” emphasizes a careful and close inspection. “The teacher scrutinized the students’ papers for errors.” This indicates that the teacher is looking very closely at the papers to find any mistakes.
“Examine” is a more general term that can mean to inspect or study something. “The doctor examined the patient.” This shows that the doctor is looking at the patient to determine their health condition.