as in searching
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 combing
About 700 rescuers and nearly 200 police officers are combing the rubble, racing to reach survivors pinned beneath concrete and twisted steel.
—
Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
When her mother died in 2012, Hasbun inherited the gallery’s archives and began combing through them.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
Investigators spent years combing through thousands of hours of surveillance footage and digital evidence to identify participants in the attack.
—Nik Popli, Time, 19 May 2026
Use marabou jigs, jigs tipped with one- to two-inch minnows and spoons for combing these deeper areas.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
While combing through coral, Harasti spotted a unique and wholly unfamiliar creature swimming through the water.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 May 2026
For some subjects, that means combing an archive.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Davis said that investigators will then begin combing through video footage from traffic cameras as well as from security cameras at private businesses and residences.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 11 May 2026
The Moroccan Navy released video Wednesday showing military divers examining caves, aircraft scanning the ocean surface and teams of uniformed personnel and canine crews combing the rocky shoreline.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
When her mother died in 2012, Hasbun inherited the gallery’s archives and began combing through them.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
Investigators spent years combing through thousands of hours of surveillance footage and digital evidence to identify participants in the attack.
—Nik Popli, Time, 19 May 2026
Use marabou jigs, jigs tipped with one- to two-inch minnows and spoons for combing these deeper areas.
—John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
While combing through coral, Harasti spotted a unique and wholly unfamiliar creature swimming through the water.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 May 2026
For some subjects, that means combing an archive.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Davis said that investigators will then begin combing through video footage from traffic cameras as well as from security cameras at private businesses and residences.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 11 May 2026
The Moroccan Navy released video Wednesday showing military divers examining caves, aircraft scanning the ocean surface and teams of uniformed personnel and canine crews combing the rocky shoreline.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for combing
searching
Verb
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Rollins was still searching and discovering while on tour into his 80s.—
Don Heckman,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
-
Sophia said the event was just as exciting and fun as last year for her and her son — who, while searching for planes in the sky, excitedly grabbed her face and reminded her that the watermelons and lemonade were just as amazing as the planes.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Combing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combing. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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