COMBING Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

combing

verb

Definition of combing

present participle of comb

as in searching

to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something combed the library for the missing book

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 combing Tips and calls are coming in and investigators are combing through other video, Saucier said. — Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 The videos show search crews combing the Pentagon's charred corridors, and interviews with firefighters working to contain the disaster. — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Hiring a researcher, Rice began investigating, speaking with people from McDonnell’s past and combing through archival records. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 Videos and photos emerged from Colombia showing first responders combing through rubble and debris, looking for any signs of life. — Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Compared with Google’s once-user-friendly UI and more relevant results, combing through an AltaVista results page required patience and genuine skill that was honed over time. — Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026 Police told local news outlets that thieves used one of the company trucks to smash through the site’s security gate and then spent eight hours combing through the building. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 This was 1979, when Sonny was combing greater Seattle for prospects as a plucky young head coach at Montana State. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026 Independent astronomers combing through public NASA data first discovered the rocket was on a collision course with the moon, NASA said. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for combing

searching

Verb

While searching for a message to share with his team this week, Frost found inspiration from the handful of games that were played this weekend as part of Week 0.

— Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
The farm alleges an officer in Polk County shot the donkey while searching for a missing person without permission or warning, according to the Facebook post.

— Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of searching

Browse Nearby Words

combines

combing

combing (out)

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Style

“Combing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/combing. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of combing

verb

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