A cost-effective way to explore the Solar System was to send thousands of robotic probes to scour celestial bodies for data.
Source: tatoeba (1592686)
Scour
/ˈskaʊə/
Synonyms for "scour" (245 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (49)
Strong matches (74)
Related words (122)
pass throughpatrolperambulateperegrinatepererrateplypolishpostprowlpurgeracerakerangerange overransackrasprazereconnoiterremoverifle
Show 73 more words
rinserinse outritually immerserocketroutrubrub awayrub offrub outrummagerushscamperscootscour outscour the countryscoutscramblescrapescrubscrub upscudscuffscurryscuttlesearchsearch high heavenseekshakeshake downshampooshineshootshowerskedaddleskinsleekslickslick downsluicesluice outsmokesoapspeedspongestep on itswabsweepsweep outsyringeteartoiveltosstracktransittraveltravel overtravel throughtraversetubturn inside outturn upside downunclogunfoulvarnishventvoidvoyagewashwash outwash upwaxwearwear away
Noun(19 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: ablate, abrade, abrade, abrase, baptize.
- Sentence evidence is available for scour, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, derived_reverse, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "scour".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "scour"
Keep "scour" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "scour" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "scour", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "scour" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
21 entriescleancleaningerosionerosion processexaminationexaminegeological processinvestigateinvestigationlook formaintenance procedureplacepurifyrinserinse offrub
Showing 16 of 21 words.
More specific
15 entriesCollocations
10 entriesbed scourbridge scourlocal scourscour around piersscour depthscour holescour marksscour padscour ratescouring action
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
39 total sentences available.
"Go to work, scour the shit." "Screw you!"
Source: tatoeba (2962754)
How will I scour with a fork?
Source: tatoeba (2962756)
The stepmother gave her the meanest work in the house to do; she had to scour the dishes, tables, etc., and to scrub the floors and clean out the bedrooms.
Source: tatoeba (6211640)
Showing 4 of 39 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "scour"?
Closest matches include ablate, abrade, abrade, abrase, baptize.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "scour"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.