Another Word for Analyze: 12 Synonyms with Examples
To analyze (British spelling: analyse) is to examine something in detail to understand it. Alternatives differ in how systematic or critical the examination is.
As a verb: examine in detail
- examine
- study
- investigate
- scrutinise
- inspect
- review
- dissect
As a verb: judge or interpret
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How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- examine
- A close, careful look; slightly less systematic than analyse.
- investigate
- Tries to find out facts or causes, often of a problem.
- scrutinise
- Examines very closely, looking for faults.
- evaluate
- Judges value or effectiveness, not just how something works.
- break down
- Informal; splits something into its parts to understand it.
- interpret
- Explains what data or a text means.
Example sentences
- examine: We examined two years of complaint records.
- investigate: Engineers investigated why the bridge was vibrating.
- scrutinise: The auditors scrutinised every expense claim over £500.
- evaluate: The study evaluates whether the reading scheme raised scores.
- break down: The chart breaks down spending by department.
- interpret: It is easy to interpret a small rise as a trend.
Opposite of analyze
- ignore
- overlook
- skim
- synthesize
More from WordNet
Less common or more specialised words WordNet lists for other senses of “analyze”. Check the meaning before you use one.
verb: analyse, canvass, psychoanalyze, psychoanalyse
WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Used under the WordNet licence.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “analyze”?
The most useful alternatives are “examine”, “study”, “investigate”, “scrutinise”, “inspect”. For the main sense (examine in detail), “examine” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “examine” and “investigate”?
examine: A close, careful look; slightly less systematic than analyse. investigate: Tries to find out facts or causes, often of a problem.
What is the opposite of “analyze”?
Common antonyms are “ignore”, “overlook”, “skim”, “synthesize”.