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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as in to wipe
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swab
Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Clean your straightener, curling iron A cotton ball or swab dipped in rubbing alcohol is the easiest way to clean a flat iron or curling iron.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Current flu tests require nasal or throat swabbing and can be expensive—not to mention uncomfortable.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swab
Noun
The flu is currently diagnosed via nasal or throat swab tests, which just became available for over-the-counter use last year.
—Verb
These tests can include chest X-rays, swabbing the inside of the mouth or nose, pulse oximetry to detect levels of oxygen and blood tests.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for swab
Noun
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Commercial-grade appliances, with deep-tilt skillet and griddle, enable sailors to cook more food faster.—
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In October, Regatta Bonaire draws sailors for races around Bonaire and to its neighboring islands.—
Verb
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Rinse with warm water and wipe with a microfiber cloth.—
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Let the towel remain on the stovetop for at least 15 minutes and then wipe with a clean cloth to remove debris.—
Noun
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The only real-time observations available to the mariner were shore and ship reports.—
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By aiding mariners, Airy believed, such measurements provided a tangible service to the state that the newfangled spectroscopy might not be able to match.—
Verb
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Later on, a smaller group of us from the ship recalled feeling absolutely out of sorts as we were guided into a large communal space, stripped out of our robes, and each scrubbed and bathed on top of our own warmed marble slabs.—
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After soaking for at least 15 minutes, use an abrasive sponge or nylon bristle brush to scrub the burner grates.—
Noun
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Assistance is free and confidential, Altman said, and Covered California has invested in a network of navigators to ensure help is widely available.—
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As time-telling became more precise, ship navigators needed a standardized way to set their chronometers.—
Verb
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Turn it back upright, using the bristles to brush away the remaining snow.—
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Restore Sweatpants These classic grey sweatpants will surely become the cornerstone of your winter travel wardrobe with their thick, brushed terry fabric and four-way stretch design.—
Verb
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There is no need to rinse, but make sure surfaces stay wet for at least two minutes before air drying.—
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Wipe away the cleaning solution with a soft cloth, then rinse with warm water.—
Verb
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The Floor Sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor to remove any loose dirt or debris, and then mop the floor with a heavy-duty cleaner, making sure to clean any spills or stains.—
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Watching Dick Cheney mop the floor with Edwards in the 2004 vice presidential debate is a good way to understand how unserious Democrats seemed to a lot of Americans in those days.—
Cite this Entry
“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swab. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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