1. to search for and expose corruption, scandal, or wrongdoing, especially in politics or business
Usage: often used in journalism and investigative reporting

1. a tool with a long handle and a rake-like head, used for scraping or gathering muck, dirt, or manure
Usage: literal, agricultural sense
2. journalists or writers who investigate and expose corruption and scandal
Usage: plural form; refers to muckrakers as people

Examples

• The reporter muckrakes through corporate records to find evidence of fraud.
• Early 20th-century muckrakes published exposés that led to major reforms.
• She muckrakes in local politics, uncovering misuse of public funds.
• The farmer used a muckrake to clean out the barn.
• Modern muckrakes use social media to share their investigative findings.
• He muckrakes for stories that will hold powerful people accountable.
• The muckrakes of the Progressive Era changed American journalism forever.