as in searched
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in groomed
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Recent Examples of combed
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
In the hair department, the Skims founder kept things simple, with her pixie style combed forward and her wispy bangs falling neatly over her face.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Families of the trapped -- who are said to be mostly teenage boys -- waited anxiously for news as rescue teams combed through twisted debris and slabs of concrete to find 38 students and workers who were still missing.
—Britt Clennett, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
The network then reportedly combed through additional archives in search of any other relevant recordings.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Some people combed the beach to find debris.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Health spoke to skin and food experts and combed through the research to see what science actually says about caffeine’s impact on aging, both inside and out.
—Laura Schober, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
Teams of searchers combed the shoreline on foot and in inflatable boats.
—Todd Symons, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Victor Campos gently combed away sawdust clinging to Oden’s hide as an auctioneer’s voice echoed Saturday through the Gold Country Fair.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Here, Swift’s hair is pinned in a half up, half down style, with bangs combed every which way.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
In the hair department, the Skims founder kept things simple, with her pixie style combed forward and her wispy bangs falling neatly over her face.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Families of the trapped -- who are said to be mostly teenage boys -- waited anxiously for news as rescue teams combed through twisted debris and slabs of concrete to find 38 students and workers who were still missing.
—Britt Clennett, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
The network then reportedly combed through additional archives in search of any other relevant recordings.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Some people combed the beach to find debris.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Health spoke to skin and food experts and combed through the research to see what science actually says about caffeine’s impact on aging, both inside and out.
—Laura Schober, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
Teams of searchers combed the shoreline on foot and in inflatable boats.
—Todd Symons, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Victor Campos gently combed away sawdust clinging to Oden’s hide as an auctioneer’s voice echoed Saturday through the Gold Country Fair.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combed
Verb
-
Two plays after Toth’s hold, on second-and-13, Hurts searched within a clean pocket but fired incomplete after finding no one open.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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The cooler will be searched and tagged at the gate.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The renowned adventure travel outfitter Eleven runs two exclusive lodges in the former mining town of Crested Butte (Scarp Ridge Lodge and Sopris House) and offers such adventures as fat-tire biking on groomed trails and snowshoeing through aspen glades.—
Nicholas DeRenzo,
AFAR Media,
16 Sep. 2025
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And that begins with changes in the way mindsets are groomed.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Electric Era, which was founded by SpaceX engineers, is ready to release its next product, one that is designed to address energy storage management and charging power demand concerns.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Now, Stern, who co-founded Apple Fitness+ and previously oversaw Ford's subscription services, aims to upgrade Peloton's products in an effort to match its wide range of class types with its hardware.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Martin, who is fifty-four, is the most commercially successful songwriter of the twenty-first century; his work is meticulous and precise, and his songs are taut, balanced, unyielding.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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Following the video, Swift began sharing footage from the rehearsals and set of the video, letting us into her meticulous planning process.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Two innings later, after third baseman Manny Machado drew a leadoff walk against Boyd, Merrill scanned the scoreboard and the situation.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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It will be required for all non-EU nationals heading to Europe for a short stay, but the fingerprints of children below 12 years old will not be scanned.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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These treatments require careful and ongoing monitoring.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Combed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combed. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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