1
as in sipping
to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat
try not to swallow the toothpaste
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in suppressing
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
swallowed his pride and asked for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in believing
to regard as right or true
my little niece swallows everything I tell her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 swallowing
Speech-language pathologists work with people who have disorders involving speech, language and swallowing, sometimes from injuries, medical conditions or developmental delays.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
When a pet bites into the plant, those crystals embed in mouth tissue, which explains why oral irritation and swallowing difficulty are the primary symptoms.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
If these patterns appear regularly, a medical evaluation can help identify whether swallowing changes are involved.
—Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria.
—Gma Team, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Last year’s best actor, Adrien Brody, made amends for flinging chewing gum at his wife by swallowing a fresh wad of it (and his pride).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
The hole first appeared in 2008, swallowing oil tanks, trees, telephone poles and several cars.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
However, people with swallowing issues could be in danger due to weaker muscle tone and a loss of sensory input, Duyka said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
Bella Hadid, however, has been bucking this trend throughout her time in Paris and beyond, largely opting for denim that highlights her footwear rather than swallowing them up.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2026
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
When a pet bites into the plant, those crystals embed in mouth tissue, which explains why oral irritation and swallowing difficulty are the primary symptoms.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
If these patterns appear regularly, a medical evaluation can help identify whether swallowing changes are involved.
—Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria.
—Gma Team, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Last year’s best actor, Adrien Brody, made amends for flinging chewing gum at his wife by swallowing a fresh wad of it (and his pride).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
The hole first appeared in 2008, swallowing oil tanks, trees, telephone poles and several cars.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
However, people with swallowing issues could be in danger due to weaker muscle tone and a loss of sensory input, Duyka said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
Bella Hadid, however, has been bucking this trend throughout her time in Paris and beyond, largely opting for denim that highlights her footwear rather than swallowing them up.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swallowing
Verb
-
Despite rainy March weather outside, the inside of their matcha cafe was buzzing with dozens of customers happily sipping on light green lattes.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Lounging at home, heading to the office, sipping an afternoon spritz—the light, sophisticated layers do, in fact, go with everything.—
India Roby,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once the expiry passes, the forces suppressing volatility will recede — leaving macroeconomics and geopolitics firmly back in control.—
Sidhartha Shukla,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The TriForce 40mm drivers deliver a dynamic listening experience with exceptional highs and deep lows, while the detachable HyperClear Cardioid mic ensures your voice is crystal clear by suppressing background noise.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump launched this conflict believing that Iran was weak, and that a short, sharp campaign would force a new leader to terms.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Not like the spring of 2021, with poor Chris Woodward trying his darndest to talk us into believing Joey Gallo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Kyle Gibson were the makings of something big.—
Kevin Sherrington
Mar. 25,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some have gone further, publicly chewing khat on the campaign trail, a gesture that signals solidarity and which has become something of a ritual in Kenyan electoral cycles, with aspiring leaders competing to demonstrate the sincerity of their commitment to khat farmers and traders.—
Joseph Maina,
semafor.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Methods for maximizing looks range from workouts and skin-care routines to more radical options, such as chewing hard gum for hours to get a squarer jaw.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are those, however, who do not see regulation as a stifling force.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
From there, the house unfolds via a traditional footprint that somehow feels soft and inviting instead of stifling.—
Miriam Schwartz,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cameron House is dreamy, in part for its location and breath-taking views and in part for its blend of baronial grandeur and modern luxury.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Fort Worth Southwest Christian senior Lara Langford, a UMass-Boston signee, hurled four innings striking out four and giving up five runs in taking the loss.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
However, hyponatremia, a condition that results from drinking too much water and effectively diluting the sodium content of your blood, can actually be far more dangerous.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Binge drinking — defined as drinking five plus beverages in one sitting — drove the most liver disease deaths, with the greatest risk among those who engaged in binge drinking while living with type 2 diabetes or hypertension.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In particular, adopting an accepting attitude toward your experiences seems to drive many of the positive effects of mindfulness.—
J. David Creswell,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But the district is accepting broad development proposals through April 9.—
Thomas White,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swallowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swallowing. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
