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
When the humans return, there are only a handful, better clothed, hair braided and combed, new fashions.
—
Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Her mother insisted her hair be combed, her face washed, tier clothes pressed.
—Stephanie Mansfield, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
By Wednesday morning, law enforcement officers and workers in protective clothing were combing the area in search of the missing animals.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
From there, researchers could comb through the libraries to identify any broadly neutralizing nanobodies.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comb
Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Her mother insisted her hair be combed, her face washed, tier clothes pressed.
—Stephanie Mansfield, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
By Wednesday morning, law enforcement officers and workers in protective clothing were combing the area in search of the missing animals.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
From there, researchers could comb through the libraries to identify any broadly neutralizing nanobodies.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comb
Verb
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Searches for the phrase are up more than 600%, and Etsy searches for related décor rose 180%.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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To search the restaurant inspections, type in a keyword or restaurant name.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Burrow, who spoke with media after the Bengals lost 18-20 to the Cleveland Browns, seemed bothered by his 'do from the start, sitting down at the mic and instantly raking his lengthy bangs back with his hands.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
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As for the face touch, when he was raked across the face by New Orleans’ Jordan Poole, on a play ruled a transition take foul, Larsson smiled afterward.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Investigators also found eight 9 mm casings fired from a Glock pistol at the scene where Holmes was killed, according to the affidavit.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
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In doing so, the judge found he could not be involved in the handling of the separate probes related to the civil fraud investigation and the NRA.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Comb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comb. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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