swallow 1 of 2

verb

Definition of swallownext
1
as in to sip
to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat try not to swallow the toothpaste

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering swallowed his pride and asked for help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to believe
to regard as right or true my little niece swallows everything I tell her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swallow

2 of 2

noun

as in sip
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time drank the cool refreshing water in two swallows and held out her cup for more

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of swallow
Verb
After decades of repression, Egyptians were shaken by the brutal 2010 torture and killing of Khaled Saeed, a 28-year-old from Alexandria, who the police claimed had died after swallowing a packet of drugs. — Abdelrahman Elgendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026 Sherrilyn Ifill, former head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and one of the film’s most prominent legal voices, says DuVernay was unusually good at keeping all that expertise from swallowing the movie. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
The lost years, the brief birthday calls, dates for visits discussed but flights never booked—swallow, swallow, do this in memory of me. — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 The swallows — which arrive from across New England and the Canadian Maritimes — are on a journey to the Gulf of Mexico. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swallow
  1. sip
  2. stifle
  3. believe
  4. gulp
  5. chew
  6. suppress
  7. take
  8. drink
Verb
  • If a leisurely day by the pool is on the agenda, order chips and guac or sip a Valley Margarita from the comfort of your chaise lounge.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The fruit of the Santorini vine is both hearty and sweet, and there are a dozen or so wineries where casual visitors can sip and take in the views.
    — Rick Steves, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of sip
Verb
  • Debt acts as a ceiling on private investment, further stifling growth.
    — Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The weather served up truly stifling heat, including a stretch of highs in the mid-90s, and a few days of air quality emergency due to wildfire smoke drifting across the upper Midwest.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of stifle
Verb
  • Alderman maintains that each of the defendants have continued to lie to protect themselves and believes there is evidence of satanic worship.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2026
  • His eldest son Théo Saujet worked on the scent Les Caves, inspired by the iconic Saint-Tropez night club Les Caves du Roy, which Thomas Saujet believes will be the most multigenerational of all the fragrances.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of believe
Noun
  • Atkinson’s gift for galloping plot, as well as her typical attention to even the most tertiary character, make this a delicious gulp of a read.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Kenzo leaned back so that his bobbing Adam’s apple was visible, and drank it down in one gulp.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of gulp
Verb
  • Phillip Gong Gong, my grandfather, teased her, chewing the gristly meat and semi-raw cabbage chunks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Two guys who coached on the correct side of the ball [defense] chewing it up.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of chew
Verb
  • Optional filters can be slotted in each module (when available) to suppress city lighting, adjust for solar imagery, and cater for different wavelengths.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But Uthmeier contends an overly broad reading of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause has been twisted into a tool to suppress Christians and other believers.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • The legislation takes a balanced and unprecedented approach to bundling a bevy of streamlining proposals into a single bill, said Ben Norris, senior vice president of regulatory affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Forward Eetu Luostarinen left the game midway through the third period after taking a puck to the face and did not return.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of take
Noun
  • Servers take orders for espresso drinks and hot made-to-order dishes like fresh omelettes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • This spirit makes drinks that pair perfectly with the season as the leaves fall and the sweaters come out of the back of the closet.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of drink

Browse Nearby Words

swales
swallow
swallowable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swallow. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on swallow

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about swallow

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All