Crossword answer
SWAB
4 letters · Used for 25 different clues · 54 appearances · Last seen Everyday Puzzles Mini, August 7, 2026
Letter pattern
SWAB
Clues that lead to SWAB
Most recent firstClueLettersPuzzleLast seen
What a pirate might do to a deck to clean it4Everyday Puzzles MiniAug 7, 2026
Surgical pad4Evening StandardJul 29, 2026
Cotton-tipped tool4USA TodayJul 7, 2026
Mop4Evening StandardJun 17, 2026
Cotton ___ (Q-Tip, for one)4Daily ThemedMay 31, 2026
Lubber doing a clean-up job4Evening StandardMay 14, 2026
DNA sample implement4New York TimesMay 10, 2026
Q-tip, e.g.4NYT MidiMar 20, 2026
Ear cleaner4Eugene ShefferFeb 24, 2026
Cotton ___ (Q-tip)4Daily ThemedJan 27, 2026
Clear the decks?4Eugene ShefferDec 30, 2025
Heading to get seaman's mop for cleaning decks4The IndependentNov 13, 2025
Mop was horribly black (4)4The SunSep 29, 2025
Medical specimen (4)4The SunSep 29, 2025
Was preparing a little breakfast while you wash4Evening StandardSep 12, 2025
Sample collector4NewsdayAug 16, 2025
Cornish sailor's mop? (4)4The SunJul 20, 2025
Do a spit take?4New York TimesMay 14, 2025
Ear-cleaning implement4NewsdayMay 6, 2025
Sailor's mop4NewsdayApr 20, 2025
Lubberly ways, to a seaman4Evening StandardNov 18, 2024
Forensic lab sample4Daily ThemedJun 8, 2024
Clean ship's prow with sailor4The IndependentMar 21, 2024
Crime lab item4Eugene ShefferMar 6, 2024
Clear the deck?4Eugene ShefferOct 26, 2020
About SWAB in crosswords
SWAB is a 4-letter answer that has appeared 54 times in our database across 25 different clues. It was most recently the answer to “What a pirate might do to a deck to clean it” in the Everyday Puzzles Mini crossword on August 7, 2026.
Other 4-letter answers
LAMBYoung sheep (4)
ALAS"Unfortunately ..."
SANDDune makeup
XENA"___: Warrior Princess," fantasy show where Lucy Lawless plays the powerful lead who gives the show its name
SOFASettee
IBMSCertain PCs
RENOCity north of Carson City
SAGSHangs low
METSNew York MLB team
LOCSHairstyle that may begin with comb coils
IVAN"Big Mistakes" character played by Mark Ivanir
GLUMDejected (4)
JABSPointed remarks
MAYAChichén Itzá builders
Every appearance of SWAB (54)
Click to expand · newest first
Aug 7, 2026
What a pirate might do to a deck to clean it · Everyday Puzzles Mini · 1
Jul 29, 2026
Surgical pad · Evening Standard · 14 Across
Jul 7, 2026
Cotton-tipped tool · USA Today · 5 Across
Jun 17, 2026
Mop · Evening Standard · 29 Down
May 31, 2026
Cotton ___ (Q-Tip, for one) · Daily Themed · 29 Down
May 14, 2026
Lubber doing a clean-up job · Evening Standard · 23 Across
May 10, 2026
DNA sample implement · New York Times · 4 Across
Mar 20, 2026
Q-tip, e.g. · NYT Midi · 6 Across
Feb 24, 2026
Ear cleaner · Eugene Sheffer · 1 Across
Jan 27, 2026
Cotton ___ (Q-tip) · Daily Themed · 15 Down
Jan 15, 2026
Mop · The Independent · 8 Across
Dec 30, 2025
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 5 Across
Nov 13, 2025
Heading to get seaman's mop for cleaning decks · The Independent · 24 Down
Sep 29, 2025
Medical specimen (4) · The Sun · 18 Across
Sep 29, 2025
Mop was horribly black (4) · The Sun · 18 Across
Sep 12, 2025
Was preparing a little breakfast while you wash · Evening Standard · 20 Across
Aug 16, 2025
Sample collector · Newsday · Across
Jul 20, 2025
Medical specimen (4) · The Sun · 5 Down
Jul 20, 2025
Cornish sailor's mop? (4) · The Sun · 5 Down
Jun 3, 2025
Mop · Evening Standard · 25 Down
May 14, 2025
Do a spit take? · New York Times · 1 Across
May 7, 2025
Mop · Evening Standard · 9 Across
May 6, 2025
Ear-cleaning implement · Newsday · Down
Apr 20, 2025
Sailor's mop · Newsday · Down
Feb 19, 2025
Cotton ___ (Q-Tip) · Daily Themed · 42 Down
Feb 4, 2025
Mop · Evening Standard · 28 Down
Nov 18, 2024
Lubberly ways, to a seaman · Evening Standard · 8 Down
Sep 25, 2024
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 50 Down
Jun 8, 2024
Forensic lab sample · Daily Themed · 48 Across
Apr 5, 2024
Mop · Evening Standard · 20 Across
Mar 21, 2024
Clean ship's prow with sailor · The Independent · 17 Across
Mar 6, 2024
Crime lab item · Eugene Sheffer · 8 Across
May 8, 2023
Ear cleaner · Eugene Sheffer · 1 Down
Oct 25, 2022
Forensic lab sample · Daily Themed · 1 Down
Oct 14, 2022
Cotton ___ (Q-Tip) · Daily Themed · 5 Down
Jul 20, 2022
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 43 Across
Jun 29, 2022
Mop · Evening Standard · 29 Down
May 9, 2022
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 26 Down
Feb 10, 2022
Mop · Evening Standard · 6 Across
Sep 29, 2021
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 14 Across
Jun 24, 2021
Surgical pad · Evening Standard · 14 Across
Apr 28, 2021
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 43 Across
Mar 3, 2021
Lubber doing a clean-up job · Evening Standard · 23 Across
Jan 27, 2021
Mop · Evening Standard · 29 Down
Oct 26, 2020
Clear the deck? · Eugene Sheffer · 1 Down
Sep 18, 2020
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 41 Across
Sep 11, 2020
Was preparing a little breakfast while you wash · Evening Standard · 20 Across
Jun 2, 2020
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 21 Down
Apr 20, 2020
Clear the decks? · Eugene Sheffer · 42 Down
Nov 22, 2019
Mop · Evening Standard · 29 Down
Mar 15, 2019
Mop · Evening Standard · 25 Down
Nov 30, 2018
Mop · Evening Standard · 28 Down
Aug 22, 2018
Lubberly ways, to a seaman · Evening Standard · 8 Down
Mar 9, 2018
Mop · Evening Standard · 20 Across