swat

verb

\ ˈswät

swatted; swatting

Definition of swat

(Entry 1 of 4)

: to hit with a sharp slapping blow usually with an instrument (such as a bat or flyswatter) swatted the ball for a home run

swat

noun (1)

Definition of swat (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : a powerful or crushing blow

2 : a long hit in baseball especially : home run

SWAT

noun (2), often attributive

\ ˈswät

Definition of SWAT (Entry 3 of 4)

: a police or military unit specially trained and equipped to handle unusually hazardous situations or missions

Swat

geographical name

\ ˈswät

Definition of Swat (Entry 4 of 4)

river 400 miles (644 kilometers) long in Pakistan flowing into the Kabul River

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about swat

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Examples of swat in a Sentence

Verb

She swatted the fly with a magazine. The cat was swatting the injured mouse with its paw. He swatted the tennis ball out of bounds.

Noun (1)

the impatient toddler got a swat on his wrist for stepping into the street by himself

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Nomar Mazara was the Rangers Player of the Month for May after swatting 10 home runs, which tied for third in the league and was tied for the second-most in club history. — Jeff Wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: Is 'Big Sexy' losing his appeal?," 2 June 2018 Now, spurred by the Wichita incident in which the man was fatally shot by police in late December, some Kansas prosecutors and lawmakers are discussing ways to toughen penalties for swatting. — Joe Robertson And Tony Rizzo, kansascity, "After swatting calls, Kansas police want harsher penalties | The Kansas City Star," 17 Jan. 2018 But Bamba and Isaac converged on Jackson head-on, jumped and simultaneously swatted the ball away. — Josh Robbins, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Jonathan Isaac, Mo Bamba gave Magic hope at summer league," 14 July 2018 But now Melania’s back, baby, and ready to resume her busy schedule of pointing at things and swatting the president’s hands away. — Madeleine Aggeler, The Cut, "Melania’s Back, Baby!," 11 June 2018 Zuckerman's resemblance to the author prompted some speculation that these books were semi-autobiographical, though Roth swatted away those assertions when asked. — Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, "Philip Roth, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author, Dies at 85," 23 May 2018 Holiday sealed the game by swatting away a layup by Pat Connaughton, which allowed Davis to add two more free throws. — William Guillory, NOLA.com, "Gayle Benson arrives for Pelicans' playoff opener against Blazers in Portland," 15 Apr. 2018 Instant, one-swing-of-the-bat scoring is mostly what occurs, unless of course the batter’s titanic efforts to swat the ball out of the park results in the ignominy of a strike-out. — WSJ, "American Sports Can Be Sleepier Than Soccer," 11 July 2018 Mickelson, who had stirred up controversy by swatting a moving putt during the third round, finished tied for 48th, and by Wednesday his team had issued two press releases about new investment projects. — Stephanie Apstein, SI.com, "With Two U.S. Opens in His Bag, Brooks Koepka Still Wants to Be the Underdog," 3 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

However, events spiralled out of control, with two of Barriss’ teammates, Casey Viner and Shane Gaskill, becoming involved in the swat that led to Finch’s death. — Jon Porter, The Verge, "California man pleads guilty to fatal swatting and FCC bomb threat," 14 Nov. 2018 And although there may be some rationale to a dispassionate swat, what parents and caregivers didn't understand was what was happening to the child's brain, especially when the small spank turned into a beating or whipping. — Meghan Leahy, chicagotribune.com, "I don't want to spank my sassy 4-year-old. What should I do instead?," 5 July 2018 The teams put on a lively show, trading ice hockey-style fast breaks, sneaky steals, and explosive backhand swats. — Anthony Flint, BostonGlobe.com, "For an otherworldly splurge, beach polo at the Ocean House," 16 May 2018 In many cultures, a swat on the bottom of a child who had stepped out of line was often enough. — Meghan Leahy, chicagotribune.com, "I don't want to spank my sassy 4-year-old. What should I do instead?," 5 July 2018 There are many kinds and levels of corporal punishment, ranging from infrequent swats on the butt to regular open-handed smacking or striking with belts or paddles, and many contexts in which it might be employed. — David Roberts, Vox, "Please don’t spank your kids," 3 July 2018 The swats left black, blue and purple bruises from the boy’s hip to his knee and a bruised foot that left him limping for days. — Washington Post, "North Carolina court considers if father’s paddling is crime," 18 Apr. 2018 The 7-footer's 104 blocks rank second in single-season swats in program history. — Jeff Greer, The Courier-Journal, "Former Louisville center Anas Mahmoud to play in NBA summer league," 22 June 2018 The woman in blue swats the other woman's hands away as the car begins to back up. — Scott Berson, charlotteobserver, "Bystanders scream as woman drives away with nail salon worker clinging to trunk, video shows | Charlotte Observer," 22 May 2018

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