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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as in to wipe
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swab
Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
In a completely unrelated incident, in February 2020, Chris was arrested after drunkenly falling asleep in the entryway of a stranger's home and consented to a voluntary DNA swab, not thinking twice about it.
—Megan De Mar, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Kelsey Brown, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Jan. 2026
Pap smears, on the other hand, use a metal or plastic device called a speculum to widen the vaginal canal so a clinician can swab the cervix for cells.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swab
Noun
Howard lived near victim in 90s The match between the vaginal swab and Howard’s cigarette butt came in a crime lab report in January, the affidavit said.
—Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
In a completely unrelated incident, in February 2020, Chris was arrested after drunkenly falling asleep in the entryway of a stranger's home and consented to a voluntary DNA swab, not thinking twice about it.
—Megan De Mar, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
Similar to his trip to the Arctic, he was set to swab and syringe anything that looked promising, secure the findings in test tubes and collect as much information as possible — salinity, pressure, temperature — about where samples were found.
—Kelsey Brown, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Jan. 2026
Pap smears, on the other hand, use a metal or plastic device called a speculum to widen the vaginal canal so a clinician can swab the cervix for cells.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swab
Noun
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That technology is only effective in the hands of sailors trained to operate and maintain it, which is where the schoolhouse comes in, according to Lawrence Averion, directed energy branch manager.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
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Researchers have found remains of the sailors, as well as artifacts from the shipwrecks.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Rub it across the grates until the residue is removed, then wipe them down with a damp cloth and start planning your next cookout.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
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Mix 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent into a bucket of warm water and gently wipe the wall clean.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Noun
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These blackouts occur when intense X-ray and ultraviolet radiation from solar flares ionize Earth's upper atmosphere, interfering with high-frequency radio signals used by aviators, mariners and amateur radio operators.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
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Just know that there is an army of mariners on the ships, moving those goods around the world.—
Steve Kastenbaum,
NPR,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Use a narrow bottle brush to scrub all the openings and the interior of the holder.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
18 May 2026
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Avoid scrubbing aggressively, which can make the problem worse.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Noun
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The same thing happened in the region last year during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran and has also troubled vessel navigators in the Baltic Sea.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
13 May 2026
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For the 2025 version, our approximately 10 pairings of drivers and navigators arrived on a Wednesday and convened at Monaco’s Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo to sign in and receive preliminary instructions for the next day’s start.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Additional layers are applied to fill gaps and create a smooth surface before a final coat of lacquer is brushed on.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
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Yet younger people may be more likely to brush off shingles symptoms as NBD and have less awareness of what the illness actually is.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Vulcano About an hour ferry ride from Milazzo, Vulcano lures visitors with its active volcano, Gran Cratere, and open-air mud baths just steps from the port, where bathers slather on the mineral-rich goodness before rinsing in the sea.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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White mineral buildup on fixtures, soap that won’t lather and a tight or filmy feeling after rinsing all point to hard water.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Then fill it with clean water and mop the floor again to rinse off any bleach residue.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
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Wipe down the area again or mop the area with disinfectant.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swab. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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