swabbies

noun

plural of swabbie, slang
as in sailors
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel the pirate captain cried, "Ahoy, me swabbies, 'tis time to hoist the Jolly Roger!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swabbies
  1. sailors
  2. mariners
Noun
  • The Hope spent much of its time ferrying sailors and the wounded from other ships or ports to military hospitals, and like the Comfort, it too was attacked multiple times, though each attack failed, usually just missing the ship.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Initially billed as a publicity stunt from billionaire Bill Koch (brother to conservative bundlers Charles and David Koch), the women overcame considerable odds — and loads of sexist insults — to defeat some of the world’s greatest sailors.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of sailors
Noun
  • The agency acknowledged the port’s narrow channel is a problem but insisted on retaining control over compliance determinations, leaving mariners to navigate the practical consequences.
    — Harry T Angell, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Russian drones have struck at least a dozen merchant ships in the Black Sea in recent weeks – killing more mariners than have died during the Iran war.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of mariners
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.

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swabbie
swabbies
swabbing
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“Swabbies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swabbies. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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