swamp

1 of 2

noun

ˈswämp 

ˈswȯmp

1

: a wetland often partially or intermittently covered with water

especially : one dominated by woody vegetation

2

: a tract of swamp

3

: a difficult or troublesome situation or subject

swamp adjective

swamp

2 of 2

verb

swamped; swamping; swamps

transitive verb

1

a

: to fill with or as if with water : inundate, submerge

b

: to overwhelm numerically or by an excess of something : flood

swamped with work

2

: to open by removing underbrush and debris

intransitive verb

: to become submerged

Synonyms

Noun

• bog
• fen
• marsh
• marshland
• mire
• moor
• morass
• muskeg
• slough
• slew
• slue
• swampland
• wash
• wetland

Verb

• deluge
• drown
• engulf
• flood
• gulf
• inundate
• overflow
• overwhelm
• submerge
• submerse

Examples of swamp in a Sentence

Noun

Alligators live in the lowland swamps.

be careful in the swamp, because alligators sometimes lurk there

Verb

The sea level rose and swamped the coastal villages.

The boat sank after it was swamped by waves.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Instead of disappearing into the swamps, Armando decides to team with Mike and Marcus to expose Lockwood and ultimately redeems himself by nearly sacrificing his life to save Judy's daughter. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 7 June 2024

The alligator was named CIM and fitted with a satellite tracker tag as part of an ongoing genetics study tracking alligator movement in the massive swamp. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024

Verb

Even waterproofed vehicles would be swamped and could sink. —Frank A. Blazich Jr., The Conversation, 20 May 2024

But Slovakia’s politics are particularly poisonous, swamped by wild conspiracy theories and bile. —Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 19 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps alteration of Middle English sompe, from Middle Dutch somp morass; akin to Middle High German sumpf marsh, Greek somphos spongy

First Known Use

Noun

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1784, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing swamp

• swamp buggy

Kids Definition

swamp

1 of 2 noun

ˈswämp 

ˈswȯmp

: wet spongy land often partly covered with water

swamp

2 of 2 verb

1

: to fill or become filled with or as if with water

2

: overwhelm sense 2

was swamped with work