SWAB Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

swab 1 of 2

noun

ˈswäb

Definition of swab

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

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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

For one thing, a positive surface swab still wouldn’t confirm the castle was the source. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026 The complaint claims that a DNA swab from the gun’s trigger contained a mixture of three people, and the results strongly suggest that Miller was one of them. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 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

Noun

In another favorite photo, a young Black sailor blows smoke into the air.

— Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
Nearly two dozen sailors from many countries were either killed or are missing.

— the Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of sailor

Verb

Transfer mushrooms to plate with sausage; do not wipe skillet clean and set skillet aside.

— Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2026
At one point, Blair cried with tears running down her face, and her lawyer Reitzas moved to wipe them from her face as Blair remained handcuffed during the proceedings.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of wipe

Noun

Seas will also begin to lower as the nor'easter pulls away, but inexperienced mariners and small vessels are encouraged to stay docked on Monday as rough seas and gusty winds are still likely.

— Sarah Wroblewski, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026
For example, Kingsborough Community College, located in South Brooklyn, where the Sheepshead and Jamaica Bays meet the Atlantic Ocean, operates a maritime technology program that is training the next generation of local mariners.

— Julie Raskin, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of mariner

Verb

Adding baking soda to interior grease stains can act as a gentle abrasive to scrub them away.

— Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
The company dispensed with its DEI disclosures to investors, scrubbing any references to goals and resources aimed at boosting diversity at the company.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of scrub

Noun

Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished during one of the final stretches of their trip after departing Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Celestial navigators who do this will need to account for the growing difference between UTC and UT1 when determining their precise position on Earth.

— Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of navigator

Verb

In one scene, Evans stands completely naked in the shower, brushing his teeth with the bathroom door wide open and the cameras rolling, as Fielder stands awkwardly nearby.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Exhausted by administrators continuously brushing off the toxic hate, her family is taking the district to court.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of brush

Browse Nearby Words

svelteness

swab

swabbed

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Style

“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swab. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of swab

noun

verb

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