swamp

noun

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\ ˈswämp

, ˈswȯmp \

Definition of swamp

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

verb

swamped; swamping; swamps

Definition of swamp (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

Other Words from swamp Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing swamp Learn More About swamp

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 Pelosi is a legislative powerhouse who has stayed on too long and is trying to construct a legacy in a rising swamp. — George Packer, The Atlantic, 18 May 2022 Muir had woken up drenched in mountain mist in Tennessee, camped out amidst buzzing mosquitoes in a Georgia cemetery, and lost his way in a Florida swamp, worried that his next step might be on an alligator. — Christoph Irmscher, WSJ, 8 Apr. 2022 Allen told the Committee that Hoffa's remains were chopped up and dumped in a Florida swamp. — Fox News, 18 Mar. 2022 But instead of the Octagon, this melee took place deep in a Florida swamp away from screaming fans and boisterous commentators. — Ed Killer, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2022 But her biggest discovery came in 2014, after getting a tip from a fisherman, who said there was a hole deep in a mangrove swamp. — Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2022 The Phillips is one of America’s finest small museums and a citadel of good taste in a squalid, parasitical swamp. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 2 Sep. 2021 Shrek Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek (Mike Myers) whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy tale characters. — Travis Bean, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022 At the time, the land was little more than uninhabited pasture and swamp, according to Reedy Creek's website. — Eric Levenson And Dianne Gallagher, CNN, 21 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb So far, Newsom holds the upper hand, thanks to the spotlight afforded to an incumbent and a $25-million reelection war chest that could easily swamp his challengers. — Phil Willonstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2022 Rising sea levels of a couple of feet could swamp it, forcing its 380,000 residents to relocate. — Greg Melville, Outside Online, 13 May 2014 Then, interest expense could swamp the federal budget. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2021 Still, health officials have warned the more contagious variant could swamp hospitals. — J. Scott Trubey, ajc, 3 Jan. 2022 But privately, they are petrified that a Republican majority would end Biden's agenda and swamp them with endless investigations and subpoenas, promise impeachment and potentially endanger fair certification of the next presidential election. — Edward-isaac Dovere, CNN, 19 Jan. 2022 More than 1 million people in the U.S. were diagnosed with covid-19 Monday as omicron cases swamp every aspect of daily American life. — Compiled Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 5 Jan. 2022 Among the most tense moments, astronomers say, will be the unfolding of a giant sunscreen, the size of a tennis court, designed to keep the telescope in the dark and cold enough so that its own heat doesn’t swamp the heat from distant stars. — New York Times, 25 Dec. 2021 Still, health officials warn the more contagious variant could swamp hospitals given omicron’s rapid spread and the large numbers in the population who are infected, even if a smaller percentage of infections lead to hospitalization. — J. Scott Trubey, ajc, 8 Jan. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'swamp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.