sawbones

noun

ˈsȯ-ˌbōnz How to pronounce sawbones (audio)
Definition of sawbonesnext
slang
as in doctor
a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders a real old-timer who remembers when you could expect a sawbones to make a house call

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sawbones
  1. doctor
  2. physician
Noun
  • This plan will break up monopolies, lower medical debt, bring down the cost of prescription drugs, and ensure doctors decide what medication their patients need — not insurance companies.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The baby was last, which might have been why doctors were able to briefly restart a heartbeat once he was rushed to the hospital after his father returned home.
    — Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of doctor
Noun
  • Most questions are screened by the office staff before they are relayed to the physician.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The physician runs a social media account critical of the communist government.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of physician
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.

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saw after
sawbones
sawbuck
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Cite this Entry

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

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