swashed; swashing; swashes
2
: to make violent noisy movements
3
: to move with a splashing sound
: to cause to splash
1
: swagger
2
: a narrow channel of water lying within a sandbank or between a sandbank and the shore
3
: a dashing of water against or on something
especially
: the rush of water up a beach from a breaking wave
: an extended flourish on a printed character
Examples of swash in a Sentence
Verb
waves gently swashing against the shore
every bump in the road swashed a little more of my soda on the car's upholstery
Recent Examples on the Web
Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025
This cushiony highlighter deposits a swash of subtle champagne, rose quartz, or gold while the squalane (the secret star of the show) provides moisture for a long-lasting look that provides a skin-like, never cakey, finish.
—Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 5 Oct. 2024
The dessert menu is just as backward-looking (or, more generously, classic-minded) as the savory offerings: cheesecake with a swash of berry sauce, dark chocolate pot de crème.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 30 June 2024
Other dishes were similarly transcendent: a slab of duck breast was tender and rare, with crisp skin and a dazzling swash of orange sauce.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024
Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadow Hourglass’s Scattered Light Eyeshadow is a fun date night accessory thanks to a swash of sparkle that’s easy to apply: just a few dabs of product onto your eyelid, and the pearls will reflect light beautifully.
—Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 28 Sep. 2023
Some big trout are still in the swash on the beach at dawn, though this action will slow as the water continues to warm—topwaters get them.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 18 June 2021
Glow Set a travel necessity—perfect for quick makeup touch-ups, passing through TSA, or a shimmering swash of color.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2021
Hollywood’s history is rich with swash-buckling scenes.
—Allison Prang, WSJ, 22 Oct. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Recurring character Goro Majima swashes his buckles as the sole protagonist, taking to the seas having suffered from an almighty case of pirate amnesia.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
Mole crabs burrow themselves in the intertidal swash zone but leave their antennae exposed above the surface to trap food like algae and plankton.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025
This cushiony highlighter deposits a swash of subtle champagne, rose quartz, or gold while the squalane (the secret star of the show) provides moisture for a long-lasting look that provides a skin-like, never cakey, finish.
—Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 5 Oct. 2024
The dessert menu is just as backward-looking (or, more generously, classic-minded) as the savory offerings: cheesecake with a swash of berry sauce, dark chocolate pot de crème.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 30 June 2024
Other dishes were similarly transcendent: a slab of duck breast was tender and rare, with crisp skin and a dazzling swash of orange sauce.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024
Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadow Hourglass’s Scattered Light Eyeshadow is a fun date night accessory thanks to a swash of sparkle that’s easy to apply: just a few dabs of product onto your eyelid, and the pearls will reflect light beautifully.
—Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 28 Sep. 2023
Some big trout are still in the swash on the beach at dawn, though this action will slow as the water continues to warm—topwaters get them.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 18 June 2021
Glow Set a travel necessity—perfect for quick makeup touch-ups, passing through TSA, or a shimmering swash of color.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2021
Hollywood’s history is rich with swash-buckling scenes.
—Allison Prang, WSJ, 22 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Swash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swash. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swash
1 of 2 verb
ˈswäsh 
ˈswȯsh
swash
2 of 2 noun1
2
: a dashing of water against or upon something
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