as in to search
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
combed the library for the missing book
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Recent Examples of comb
The strike caused an intense fire at the hospital, with footage from local television showing rescue crews combing through the wreckage with flashlights late into the night as firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze.
—
Abdul Qahar Afghan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Because Buckley has short hair, a chignon or updo was not an option—but combed neatly back with a side part, clearing the face, feels like a very Grace Kelly detail.
—Ana Serrano, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Already combing through cherry pie recipes?
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
On BookTok, Hoover was so heavily recommended from 2020 to 2024 that combing her books for the most unrealistic dialogue and character decisions became a minor trend.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comb
Abdul Qahar Afghan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Because Buckley has short hair, a chignon or updo was not an option—but combed neatly back with a side part, clearing the face, feels like a very Grace Kelly detail.
—Ana Serrano, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Already combing through cherry pie recipes?
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
On BookTok, Hoover was so heavily recommended from 2020 to 2024 that combing her books for the most unrealistic dialogue and character decisions became a minor trend.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comb
Verb
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In the aftermath of the shooting, law-enforcement officers searched the defendants’ cars, apartments, and a brick home, affectionately nicknamed the Big Gay House, where some of them lived.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
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Officers are searching two properties in north London, a few miles from the scene of the attack in Golders Green.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police say Ortiz raked Rihanna’s Beverly Crest property with an assault rifle, striking an Airstream trailer on the property, the singer’s home and a neighbor’s home.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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Don’t rake or drive a vehicle through the area as forest floors are typically where morels grow.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Most of the trouble on this night came from starter Ryan Johnson’s inability to find the strike zone and the defense’s problems converting two plays that should have been made.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Will County Sheriff's Office confirmed on Monday that more remains have been found in the same location where the bones of a missing man were discovered last week.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Comb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comb. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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