swamp

noun

\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 Learn More about swamp

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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

Not long after that, Butcher picked up his camera and began shooting photos of Florida's cypress stands, of swamps and secluded beaches. — Tamara Lush, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher explores surrealist artist Dali's roots," 18 June 2018 At least 10 children, including a 7-day-old baby, drowned in swamps as people fled. — Cara Anna, Fox News, "Gang-rapes, lynchings: UN tallies latest South Sudan abuses," 10 July 2018 With the exception of a quick (and uninteresting) detour at the beginning of the second episode, the first three episodes of Preacher Season Three are entirely set in and around the decrepit old mansions nestled in the swamps of Louisiana. — Scott Meslow, GQ, "It’s a Bloody Good Time to Jump Into AMC’s Preacher," 22 June 2018 He was killed in the swamps of Brooklyn 13 days later. — Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Newly acquired letters illuminate the lives of Maryland's 'Old Line' soldiers," 23 Apr. 2018 The southern banks along Svensen Slough, a side channel of the Columbia River, have transformed over time from historic spruce swamp into fields diked off by European settlers for farming. — Edward Stratton, The Christian Science Monitor, "Farmers reshape land along Columbia River to bring salmon back," 2 Apr. 2018 Lo and behold, the WeSaySo corporation has placed a factory over the swamp where bunch beetles mate. — Justin Kirkland, Esquire, "Hear Me Out: Dinosaurs Predicted Our Present Reality," 26 Jan. 2018 To me, the total is a pittance and shows that the party formerly known as the Republican Party is now just another component of the swamp. — WSJ, "Your Spending Reprieve Misses the Debt Big Picture," 20 Apr. 2018 West Virginia is a Trump state and the belief that Washington is broken, drain the swamp, is very strong here. — Chris Cillizza, CNN, "A mine-owning, Mitch McConnell-hating, former convict could be the Republican Senate nominee in West Virginia," 2 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Tropical storm warnings were in effect from Anclote River, near Tampa, to the Alabama-Mississippi border, while officials warned that a powerful storm surge could swamp much of Florida's Gulf Coast. — Tim Stelloh /, NBC News, "Storms swamp Memorial Day revelers from Florida to Maryland," 28 May 2018 More recently, extreme prices helped trigger an onslaught of new, shale oil production in the U.S., swamping markets. — Anatoly Kurmanaev, WSJ, "Russia, OPEC Members to Discuss Easing Oil Output Cap," 24 May 2018 But Republican outside groups swamped the district. — Alexander Burns And Jonathan Martin, BostonGlobe.com, "Lamb wins Pennsylvania House seat, giving Democrats a map for Trump Country," 14 Mar. 2018 Those figures swamped the spending of gun control advocacy groups, which mustered only about $19 million in that period. — Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "'Thoughts and prayers' and fistfuls of NRA money: Why America can't control guns (a grim update)," 15 Feb. 2018 Scouting report: Alabama Coach Nick Saban is mired in another miserable summer, swamped with the decision between a four-star quarterback who led Alabama into last year’s national championship game and a five-star quarterback who won it. — Jake Lourim, The Courier-Journal, "How Louisville football can (and can't) beat Alabama," 2 July 2018 Paying these taxes could prove a nightmare for small businesses, which could be swamped by the sheer complexity of the task. — Hiawatha Bray, BostonGlobe.com, "Online tax bills are hugely complicated — more than you ever knew — and small firms are finding that out," 25 June 2018 West Sacramento's recent decision to accept greater responsibility for maintaining levees and drainage systems along the Sacramento River has some residents worried that the city could be swamped financially if the area floods. — Kellen Browning, sacbee, "Could West Sacramento be forced to pay up if the river floods? Mayor and residents disagree," 18 June 2018 Apparently, authorities said, another passing vessel threw a heavy wake that swamped the overloaded Malibu ski boat. — Detroit Free Press Staff, Detroit Free Press, "11 rescued after heavily overweight boat capsizes on Pine Lake," 5 July 2018

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.