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swashbuckling

adjective

swash·​buck·​ling ˈswäsh-ˌbə-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce swashbuckling (audio)
ˈswȯsh-
1
: acting in the manner of a swashbuckler
2
: characteristic of, marked by, or done by swashbucklers

Examples of swashbuckling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fraser's Mummy journey began with Sommers' 1999 revival of the Universal horror franchise, which added a swashbuckling action-adventure spirit that the original 1930s and '40s installments lacked. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025 Tracking the history of the 3-4-3 — from its defensive origins to the swashbuckling overachievers under Conte, Glasner and Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini — paints the picture of a system designed to frustrate and strike back against possession football. Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025 The pay-TV operator is one of the British media’s great success stories, forged when Rupert Murdoch was at his swashbuckling best. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025 For example, the Production Committee style of film producing, that is common in Japan, came in for criticism, and was compared poorly to Korea’s less bureaucratic and more swashbuckling style of filmmaking, which is usually helmed by just one company. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swashbuckling

Word History

Etymology

swashbuckler

First Known Use

circa 1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of swashbuckling was circa 1693

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Cite this Entry

“Swashbuckling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swashbuckling. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

swashbuckling

adjective
swash·​buck·​ling ˈswäsh-ˌbək-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce swashbuckling (audio)
ˈswȯsh-
1
: acting in the manner of a swashbuckler
2
: characteristic of, marked by, or done by swashbucklers
swashbuckling adventure
a swashbuckling tale

More from Merriam-Webster on swashbuckling

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