Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus
1

swingeing

adjective swinge·ing \ ˈswin-jiŋ \
variants: or less commonly swinging

Definition of swingeing

chiefly British
: very large, high, or severe
  • swingeing fines
  • swingeing taxes

See swingeing defined for English-language learners

Examples of swingeing in a Sentence

  1. Homeowners now face swingeing increases in their bills.

  2. a swingeing criticism of the government's policies

Origin and Etymology of swingeing

from present participle of 1swinge

2

swingeing

adverb
variants: or swinging

Definition of swingeing

chiefly British
: very, superlatively

First Known Use of swingeing

1690

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Phrases Related to SWINGEING

Related Phrases

SWINGEING Defined for English Language Learners

swingeing

adjective

Definition of swingeing for English Language Learners

  • : very large and difficult to deal with

  • : very critical or severe

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up swingeing? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

adulation

play

excessive admiration or flattery

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

swingeing

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games