sawbones

noun

ˈsȯ-ˌbōnz How to pronounce sawbones (audio)
Definition of sawbonesnext
slang
as in doctor
a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders a real old-timer who remembers when you could expect a sawbones to make a house call

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sawbones
  1. doctor
  2. physician
Noun
  • The suspect was previously in a critical condition after the shooting at the Debsirin Nonthaburi School, near Bangkok, with doctors providing emergency treatment.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Health officials also recommend sanitizing any surfaces that came into contact with the lettuce and contacting a doctor if symptoms develop after eating it.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of doctor
Noun
  • The safest and most sensible answer today is that AI is not ready to be independently licensed like a physician.
    — Humayun Chaudhry, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Michael Goldstein is a physician and attorney who has run to represent the district multiple times.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of physician
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

saw after
sawbones
sawbuck
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Cite this Entry

“Sawbones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sawbones. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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