swab
3 synonyms for swab, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small pad of absorbent material, often on a stick, used to clean a wound, apply medicine, or collect a sample.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A small pad of absorbent material, often on a stick, used to clean a wound, apply medicine, or collect a sample.
“The nurse used a cotton swab to clean the cut before bandaging it.”
2. verb
To clean or wipe something using a swab.
“She swabbed the wound with antiseptic before dressing it.”
How to use swab
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch zwabber ("mop"), originally referring to a sailor whose job was mopping the deck.
Full origin of swab →