swab 1 of 2

noun

ˈswäb How to pronounce swab (audio)
Definition of swabnext
as in sailor
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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swab

2 of 2

verb

as in to wipe

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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
The one-time SRY screening can be collected via saliva, a cheek swab or blood sample, according an FAQ on the Screen Sports platform. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Joining the registry can start with a cheek swab, with a kit mailed directly to someone’s home. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
Following the interview, the Connecticut State Police arrived to swab his hands for gunshot residue. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026 In the absence of active lesions to swab for HSV itself, tests must evaluate the immune response to the virus in a patient’s blood, typically by screening for the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody. — Lauren Schneider, Scientific American, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for swab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swab
  1. sailor
  2. wipe
  3. mariner
  4. scrub
  5. navigator
  6. brush
  7. rinse
  8. mop
Noun
  • After nine months at sea, the sailors and Marines of the USS Abraham Lincoln are trading their cargo pants and boots for shorts and flip-flops.
    — Sam Winslade, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Navy had dismissed reports about sailors onboard struggling with mental health concerns.
    — Sakchai Lalit, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sailor
Verb
  • For those with children or pets, the performance fabric is designed to wipe clean, and the seat cushions are removable to easily clean the sofa’s frame.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Smith appeared to cry and wipe her face during the bond court hearing.
    — DAVID J. NEAL, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of wipe
Noun
  • Carnival Conquest altered course in the Caribbean this week to assist a mariner in distress, the cruise line said.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Spanish authorities have issued recommendations for mariners intended to reduce risks to both the animals and people aboard vessels.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of mariner
Verb
  • It’s supposed to be scrubbed of personally identifiable markers, but how deep will that go?
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Use a circular motion to clean the surface, and don’t scrub too hard.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of scrub
Noun
  • The shelter will be open only to Elk Grove residents or people with deep ties to the city, verified through a vetting process, who receive referrals from the city’s homeless services navigators or police officers.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That navigator works to understand their needs and challenges, and then provides tailored recommendations.
    — Hillary Lum, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of navigator
Verb
  • There’s so little cohesion from week to week that last episode’s dramatic cliffhanger — Susan in handcuffs after Rhonda accuses her of kidnapping — is brushed off in an aside in the opening scene.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Lightly brush the dough with buttermilk and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of brush
Verb
  • According to Typology, apply the serum directly to your eyelashes and eyebrows, and do not rinse.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But their work is less likely to become clichéd, because any stale fixations will always be rinsed and refreshed by the real.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rinse
Verb
  • The women went to the bathroom to mop the bottoms of their eyes, where their makeup was smeared from crying.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • Its roller has 24 water ports that spin at 270 rpm, or nine times per second, to mop your floors up.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026
Definition of mop

Browse Nearby Words

svelteness
swab
swabbed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swab. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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