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 group combed through publicly available records to map out a network that captured the personal and professional relationships among the College of Cardinals (the senior clergy members who serve as both voters and candidates for the papacy).
—
Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2025
Tennessee authorities announced Saturday that no survivors have been recovered from a massive explosion at a rural manufacturing plant a day earlier after more than 300 investigators combed through the blast site.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
The unusual directive, marked as a top priority by the White House, has agents combing through decades-old files tied to the famed aviator.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
From the deck his father built by hand, Eric Halfen watches strangers comb through the artifacts of his life.
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comb
Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2025
Tennessee authorities announced Saturday that no survivors have been recovered from a massive explosion at a rural manufacturing plant a day earlier after more than 300 investigators combed through the blast site.
—Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
The unusual directive, marked as a top priority by the White House, has agents combing through decades-old files tied to the famed aviator.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
From the deck his father built by hand, Eric Halfen watches strangers comb through the artifacts of his life.
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comb
Verb
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To find locations, search the Mega Millions website.—
Cheryl Vari,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Oct. 2025
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Among the detentions in which allegations have not stuck, masked agents pointed a gun at, pepper sprayed and punched a young man who had filmed them searching for his relative.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Participants are encouraged to bring their own shovel, gloves, and rakes as limited tools will be provided at the event.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
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The bear repeated the raking pounce a little higher up Duane’s back.—
Marguerite Reiss,
Outdoor Life,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Some residents have found debris as far as two miles from the facility, according to the Hickman County Sheriff’s office.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
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Don’t expect to find an M5 in an iPhone, though.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Comb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comb. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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