ferreted out

VERB

search out

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ascertain bring to light drive out get at sniff out uncover unearth

WEAK

be on to chase chase down determine dig out dig up disclose discover elicit extract follow hunt hunt down learn nose out penetrate pick up on pierce probe pry pursue quest root out scout out search out seek smell out smoke out trace track down trail worm out

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tran ferreted out a Social Security number for the patient from a confidential report about her test result, then plugged that into the databases.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2023

Doubt quickly spread, however, and the climbing community eventually ferreted out that the photos were in fact real, but their geography had been faked.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2021

Allwright, the Supreme Court "looked behind the law and ferreted out the trickery," as expressed by future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who argued the case at the court.

From Salon • Oct. 7, 2021

So he ferreted out her personal email address and invited her to lunch earlier this year.

From New York Times • Nov. 25, 2019

He was glad that Jimmy thought he’d ferreted out the reason Frankie was late.

From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau