Unscrutinized

The adjective 'unscrutinized' describes something that has not been subjected to close and critical examination or investigation. It implies a lack of thoroughness in assessment, a failure to check or verify details, and a state of being overlooked or unchecked. This can apply to a wide range of subjects, from documents and processes to ideas and individuals. The implication is often a risk of error, oversight, or potential for misuse because of the absence of careful scrutiny. It suggests a potential vulnerability to inaccuracies, falsehoods, or manipulation that rigorous examination could have revealed and corrected. The state of being Unscrutinized often implies a degree of trust, negligence, or insufficient resources applied to a particular context.

Unscrutinized meaning with examples

• The financial statements were submitted, and because of the tight deadline and lack of resources, they were unfortunately left unscrutinized. This oversight later led to several inaccuracies, including unreported losses and overstated assets, creating significant problems during the company's audit. Had they been scrutinized, these discrepancies could have been caught sooner and mitigated before escalating into a major scandal. The company was eventually penalized.
• The new law, passed hastily without proper debate and a thorough examination of its potential consequences, remained Unscrutinized for several months. This allowed unintended loopholes and adverse effects to develop, affecting citizens. Experts who eventually got a look at the implications later called out these faults. The failure to carefully study the implications beforehand meant a need for expensive and time-consuming revisions to correct unintended problems.
• The online article’s sources were largely Unscrutinized by the editor, leading to the publication of several unsubstantiated claims and misinformation. While gaining initial popularity, these inaccuracies eventually eroded the site's credibility when fact-checkers stepped in. Had a more rigorous editorial process been in place, these issues could have been avoided, and the article would have maintained its integrity.
• The art forgery, a convincing imitation of a renowned painting, remained Unscrutinized in the gallery for weeks, as the curators were understaffed and distracted by another exhibit. It wasn't until a visiting expert questioned its authenticity that its flaws were brought to light, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures and closer examination of new acquisitions. The forger was never caught.
• The candidate's history and policy proposals were initially presented with limited public scrutiny and were essentially left Unscrutinized during his early campaign. Consequently, some potentially harmful background information was uncovered at a later date. The late scrutiny resulted in damage to the candidate's popularity and undermined his position, which required extensive damage control. The other candidates quickly exploited this opportunity.