swab 1 of 2

Definition of swabnext

swab

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of swab
Noun
Miami Beach police crime scene personnel photographed scratches on her and took a DNA swab of her mouth. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025 During the game, which the Pacers lost 103-95, fans at TD Garden who fit the qualifications to be donors were encouraged to stop by a section for a cheek swab. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
Current flu tests require nasal or throat swabbing and can be expensive—not to mention uncomfortable. Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025 But detectives still had the foresight to swab for DNA in case the technology ever improved. Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swab
Noun
  • But Pietrek shows that quite a bit of thought and quality control went into the blend—which was, after all, considered part of the sailors’ pay.
    Tony Sachs, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • All of the cockfighters, lottery participants, and sailors throwing scrimshaw dice had to work around the ethical code imposed by Quakers, Shakers, and Puritans who vehemently opposed these games of chance.
    Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Rinse with warm water and wipe with a microfiber cloth.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Let the towel remain on the stovetop for at least 15 minutes and then wipe with a clean cloth to remove debris.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Last week’s whale sightings by the Aquarium led the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to implement a voluntary slow speed zone called a Dynamic Management Area (DMA) for mariners to reduce their speed to 10 knots to protect the whales.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Wander the gear aisles where gadgets promise to turn anyone into a better mariner, chef, parent and human being.
    Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The next day, the neighbor saw that same man scrubbing the steps.
    Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Sanaii and Akila were recognized for intervening during a fight on a school bus, and Meredith took pride in her school and rallied a group of girls to scrub graffiti off a wall.
    Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The pilot is aided by a navigator and by a third person who holds an antenna mast.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The shelter will be open only to Elk Grove residents or those with deep ties to the city, verified through a vetting process, and who receive referrals from the city’s homeless services navigators or police officers.
    Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Broil, brushing with remaining sauce in pan halfway through, until salmon is cooked through and sauce is heavily blistered, 12–14 minutes, depending on thickness of fillet.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Testing the powder on rats fed a high-sugar diet, the team found that brushing with BSCT for just one minute a day was enough to restore the rats' oral microbiome, reduce inflammation, and kill the bacteria that causes periodontitis.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • While that’s boiling, rinse your konjac noodles thoroughly to remove any odor.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Let the solution sit for 15 minutes, then rinse it with warm water.
    Lizzy Briskin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Almost three hours after the game was meant to tip off, arena staff remained on the court to scrape up slushy ice and mop down standing water on the rubber mats surrounding the hardwood.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Your Floors Make an effort to vacuum and mop the floors in your home every Saturday, Evans advises.
    Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swab. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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