as in slap
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the impatient toddler got a swat on his wrist for stepping into the street by himself
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
didn't sleep a wink all night because she was too busy swatting mosquitoes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swat
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 May 2025
Butler, 33, can be seen briefly blowing in the direction of the inquisitive bee, while Pascal, 50, swats at it.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 16 May 2025
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 10 Oct. 2025
When Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw noted apprehension by some that the Ellisons are in league with the president and MAGA on a certain media track, the Par CEO swatted the topic away decisively.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Noun
In one early sequence, Grace, paying a visit to her mother-in-law (Sissy Spacek, luminous as ever), swats and swats at that fly but just cannot seem to kill it.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 May 2025
Butler, 33, can be seen briefly blowing in the direction of the inquisitive bee, while Pascal, 50, swats at it.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
On the earlier date, police were reportedly called to one of the houses after a swatting incident falsely reported a shooting and a dead female victim.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 10 Oct. 2025
When Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw noted apprehension by some that the Ellisons are in league with the president and MAGA on a certain media track, the Par CEO swatted the topic away decisively.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swat
Noun
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My heart is racing from the slap of cold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
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And for evangelical Christian supporters of the Jewish people and the Jewish state, the entire operation is nothing less than a collective slap in the face.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
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The previous year, another Hall of Famer, Dave Winfield, smacked the series-winning double in the top of the 11th inning of Game 6 against the Braves at old Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones are all about feeling every thump, and beat.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 Oct. 2025
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Another Boras client, Cody Bellinger, was nearing the end of his second season in Chicago, which did not deliver as much thump as his MVP-level 2023 campaign.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With Sami's back turned, Dragunov tried to hit a move near the corner, but Sami dodged it and slammed his opponent back overhead.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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One verbally slammed Thanedar for his support of Israel, and another took on Kinloch regarding recent comments on bringing the National Guard to Detroit.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The heist deals a huge blow to one of the most popular museums in the world, which houses valuable works like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and has drawn some 9 million visitors in recent years.—
NPR,
NPR,
20 Oct. 2025
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So, after scans revealed a back injury in July, to be without Cummins’ captaincy for any length of time would represent a considerable blow to his side’s Ashes hopes.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Last year in a Bravo League football game against Tesoro, a 44-14 win for the Sea Kings in which Annett passed for 285 yards, he was hit by a defender while making a throw, knocking his right (throwing) shoulder out of socket.—
Richard Dunn,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t to knock van der Kolk’s book—a book on mental health being so popular feels like a win—but fewer and fewer books getting larger and larger deals is a worrying trend.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The powerful primate makes contact with the glass wall with a heavy thud, which leaves the group near the wall gasping and yelping in fear.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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Timpani, bass drums, and piano follow with a concussive thud.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Fall boating can mean peaceful days on Arkansas' large reservoirs while many hunters begin to hit the woods instead of the water.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
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Apple’s iPhone surge Shares of Apple surged 4% to hit a new record on Monday after a report of surprisingly strong sales of its new iPhone 17.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swat. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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