comb through
Examine every detail
To comb through something is to search it carefully and thoroughly, examining every part: Investigators combed through the wreckage for clues.
The image is of running a fine-toothed comb through hair to find every tangle or louse.
You comb through documents, records, evidence—anything requiring methodical inspection.
Act of seeking
- siftSeparate coarse from fine
- huntPursuit of quarry
- scourClean by hard rubbing
- rummageSearch unsystematically through clutter
rifle · forage · dig · rake · trawl · explore · sweep · canvas
Study with attention
- inspectStudy closely for flaws
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
- analyzeStudy by breaking down
- reviewCritical written assessment
study · check · peruse · probe · assess · evaluate · audit · appraise
Remove knots from
- disentangleFree from snarls
- unravelSeparate intertwined strands
- unsnarlRemove tangles from
- sort outResolve or organize
straighten out · untangle · separate · extricate · resolve · clarify · decipher · unpack
Extremely careful and thorough
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
- exhaustiveCovering all possibilities
rigorous · diligent · conscientious · exacting · precise · fastidious · meticulous · detailed
search
Act of seeking
rummage · rifle · forage · dig · rake · trawl · explore · sweep · canvas · scan
examine
Study with attention
- inspectStudy closely for flaws
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
- analyzeStudy by breaking down
review · study · check · peruse · probe · assess · evaluate · audit · appraise · survey
detangle
Remove knots from
- disentangleFree from snarls
- unravelSeparate intertwined strands
- unsnarlRemove tangles from
sort out · straighten out · untangle · separate · extricate · resolve · clarify · decipher · unpack · piece together
painstaking
Extremely careful and thorough
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- systematicFollowing ordered procedures
exhaustive · rigorous · diligent · conscientious · exacting · precise · fastidious · meticulous · detailed · comprehensive
- readingfluency, read, comprehension, readers, books
- investigatinginvestigate, examine, inspect, probe, search
- searchsearch, web search, seek, text search, hunt
- scavengingscavenging, rummage, foraging, forage, salvage
comb throughskim
Pass over lightly
skim over · breeze through · flip through · browse · leaf through
comb throughjumble
Confused disorderly collection
scatter · toss around · mess up · disarrange · throw together
comb, through, thorough, throughout, combed, combs, combing, throughway