as in sailors
one who operates or navigates a seagoing vessel
old swabs swapping sea stories as they spend their last days in the veterans' home
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of swabs
Chris Bowling, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2026
In response to one question, Duross noted that the UV light used doesn’t show the specific type of bodily fluids that are present, and that is determined when the evidence swabs are tested at the lab.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
The kit included taking swabs for DNA.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026
The variant was also present in samples from travelers' voluntary nose swabs.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Public health experts use various methods of surveillance to track variants, including testing samples of wastewater, collecting voluntary nasal swabs from travelers, and reviewing viral samples collected from patients by doctors and hospitals.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Legal search for answers Court filings show the Police Department previously received a subpoena to allow for the inspection of evidence collected at the crime scene, including a bullet fragment, blood swabs and articles of clothing worn by Jane Doe.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Sticky pads/swabs to remove debris without leaving residue Sticky pads, also called sensor cleaning pads, use a gentle adhesive surface to lift debris from the sensor without leaving a residue.
—Jacob Little, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026
To finish up, Dana needs internal and external vaginal swabs, additional swabs in Ilana’s mouth, and then offers meds and information regarding STIs and pregnancy.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
Four health workers went door to door with suitcases full of swabs and vials.
—Chris Bowling, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2026
In response to one question, Duross noted that the UV light used doesn’t show the specific type of bodily fluids that are present, and that is determined when the evidence swabs are tested at the lab.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
The kit included taking swabs for DNA.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026
The variant was also present in samples from travelers' voluntary nose swabs.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Public health experts use various methods of surveillance to track variants, including testing samples of wastewater, collecting voluntary nasal swabs from travelers, and reviewing viral samples collected from patients by doctors and hospitals.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Legal search for answers Court filings show the Police Department previously received a subpoena to allow for the inspection of evidence collected at the crime scene, including a bullet fragment, blood swabs and articles of clothing worn by Jane Doe.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Sticky pads/swabs to remove debris without leaving residue Sticky pads, also called sensor cleaning pads, use a gentle adhesive surface to lift debris from the sensor without leaving a residue.
—Jacob Little, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026
To finish up, Dana needs internal and external vaginal swabs, additional swabs in Ilana’s mouth, and then offers meds and information regarding STIs and pregnancy.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swabs
Noun
-
The unit has about 2,500 Marines and sailors.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
19 Apr. 2026
-
During the 2018 excursion, the pair laughed and hugged the American sailors manning the boat.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At least 12 incidents involving vessels around the strait have been confirmed since fighting began, according to two global trackers, and at least seven mariners have been killed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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In recent research, my colleagues and I interviewed professional mariners about their experiences with cyber incidents and their preparedness to respond to them.—
Anna Raymaker,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tokyo Stylez, Cardi’s hairstylist, brushes out a sleek brown hairpiece, and Erika la’ pearl, her makeup artist, dabs at Cardi’s face while the rapper scrolls through her phone, controlling the music.—
Jazmine Hughes,
Allure,
24 Mar. 2026
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When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Middleware companies risk becoming the next such layer — essential navigators of fragmentation that remind us the underlying architecture was never designed to work as a whole.—
Celina Yong,
STAT,
16 Apr. 2026
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Connecting with financial counselors, patient navigators and care coordinators could help young patients on public insurance or those who lack insurance navigate the system.—
Rhonda Winegar,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Plus, its self-cleaning function rinses the brushroll after each use and dumps the debris into the dirt tank.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
5 Apr. 2026
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Moisture is why LaMarita never rinses cauliflower before tucking it into the crisper.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Zayas also combs through the dark web, a criminal haven on the internet where anonymous threat actors try to cause real-world harm.—
Heather Abbott,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
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The panel combs through a variety of influences like film and TV production; art, fashion and design trends; new technologies, materials, textures; and even social media or upcoming sporting events.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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If one person always scrubs toilet bowl rings, resentment can build, so try to get ahead of that.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
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Precipitation scrubs the atmosphere clean, picking up pollutants on its way down to the ground.—
Isabel Lopez,
Parents,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Snow sometimes dusts the surrounding slopes, melting by afternoon into damp earth as manzanita and mountain lilac begin to flower.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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To demonstrate, Ejae smiles to form creases below her eyes, then dusts some brown powder onto the area.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swabs. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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