swastika

noun

swas·ti·ka | \ ˈswä-sti-kə

How to pronounce swastika (audio)

also swä-ˈstē- \

Definition of swastika

1 : a symbol or ornament in the form of a Greek cross with the ends of the arms extended at right angles all in the same rotary direction

2 : a swastika used as a symbol of anti-Semitism or of Nazism

Examples of swastika in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web A month before that, Baldwin said that Trump should be buried in a Nazi graveyard with a swastika on his grave. — Andrew Mark Miller, Washington Examiner, "Alec Baldwin tweets about ‘dream’ of noose at Trump’s ‘trial for sedition’ on MLK's birthday," 17 Jan. 2021 In June, Connie and Michella Pineda walked out their front door in Louisville to find a bright orange swastika and a racist message spray painted on their driveway. — Washington Post, "Their neighbor allegedly painted a swastika on their driveway. Now they’re getting bullets in the mail.," 13 Nov. 2020 As the man struggled to breathe, the swastika tattooed on his chest rose and fell with each gasp. — Taylor Kate Brown, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: Pandemic deja vu — governor considers stay-at-home order," 1 Dec. 2020 Neo-Nazis—at least those not brazen enough to wear a swastika—tend to opt for less recognizable symbols. — Tom Birkett, Quartz, "The history behind ‘QAnon shaman’ Jake Angeli’s far-right tattoos," 13 Jan. 2021 The only memorial for Anne Frank in the United States was vandalized this week with swastika stickers. — Haley Victory Smith, Washington Examiner, "Sole Anne Frank memorial in US vandalized with swastikas, days before Hanukkah," 10 Dec. 2020 The United States' only memorial to Holocaust victim Anne Frank was plastered with stickers depicting a swastika, a symbol appropriated by the Third Reich during the World War II era and used by white supremacists. — Julia Musto, Fox News, "Anne Frank memorial in US defaced with swastika stickers," 10 Dec. 2020 An Anne Frank statue in Idaho that officials say is the only monument to the Holocaust victim in the country was defaced with a swastika symbol sticker this week. — Christopher Brito, CBS News, "Anne Frank memorial defaced with swastika sticker: "We are everywhere"," 10 Dec. 2020 One board from the 1930s depicts a swastika long before the symbol was stolen during the period of Nazi Germany. — Donny Bajohr, Smithsonian Magazine, "The Ten Best Photography Books of 2020," 11 Dec. 2020

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

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Last Updated

14 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Swastika.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swastika. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

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More Definitions for swastika

swastika

noun

English Language Learners Definition of swastika

: a symbol in the form of a cross with its ends bent at right angles all in the same direction

See the full definition for swastika in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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