swatted; swatting
: to hit with a sharp slapping blow usually with an instrument (such as a bat or flyswatter)
swatted the ball for a home run
1
: a powerful or crushing blow
2
: a long hit in baseball
especially
: home run
swatted; swatting; swats
: to make a false report of an ongoing serious crime in order to elicit a response from law enforcement (such as the dispatch of a SWAT unit)
Special FBI Agent John Bennett of San Francisco said in a statement to CBS, that those who swat want to see "a tactical response" – specifically, they "want to see armed officers, they want to see a bomb, dogs, helicopters – that's all part of the fun."—
Bryn Lovitt
Bryn LovittThe congresswoman had just been "swatted," or subjected to a malicious act in which a person hides their identity, then calls the cops and reports a violent crime at the address of whomever they're targeting.—Ryan Grenoble
Ryan Grenoble
swatting
noun
Prosecutors say that in addition to initiating the swatting episode in Kansas … Mr. Barriss made dozens of other, similar calls to emergency and law enforcement agencies across the country during which he falsely reported bomb threats, active shootings and other criminal activity at high schools, shopping malls and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
—Matt Stevens and Andrew R. Chow
Matt Stevens and Andrew R. Chow
often attributive
: a police or military unit specially trained and equipped to handle unusually hazardous situations or missions
Examples of swat in a Sentence
Verb (1)
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
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
The Court similarly swatted away an argument that SB1 discriminates against trans people, reasoning that both transgender and cisgender minors are equally unable to receive the medicine to treat gender dysphoria.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
Fred Katz, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Swatting occurs when someone reports an innocent person to law enforcement, accusing them of serious crimes, which results in armed police swat teams responding to the victims’ homes.
—Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
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Verb
The Legislature previously swatted two attempts earlier this year to repeal that law and ban trans girls from sports.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
The Court similarly swatted away an argument that SB1 discriminates against trans people, reasoning that both transgender and cisgender minors are equally unable to receive the medicine to treat gender dysphoria.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
Noun
Especially if Anunoby is involved in a play, a heist here or a swat there, the details don’t exit his brain.
—Fred Katz, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Swatting occurs when someone reports an innocent person to law enforcement, accusing them of serious crimes, which results in armed police swat teams responding to the victims’ homes.
—Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Cite this Entry
“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swat. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationGeographical Definition
Swat
geographical name
river 400 miles (644 kilometers) long in Pakistan flowing into the Kabul River
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