swallowing

verb

present participle of swallow
1
as in sipping
to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat try not to swallow the toothpaste

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Multiple generations of families died at Jonestown—grandmothers administered the deadly concoction to their screaming grandchildren before swallowing it themselves. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 Its boxy fit was effortlessly slouchy without swallowing my frame, and its 100 percent cotton fabric felt thick, durable, and cool to the touch. — Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 But his parents brought him back two days later, this time with fever, lethargy, a headache, and trouble swallowing. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026 The symptoms can start six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Those who don’t like swallowing pills will appreciate these tasty saffron gummy supplements. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Their father devoured his meal, slurping up soup with his right hand and swallowing bread spread with miso paste with his left. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 The loss of these specialized cells causes weakness and then paralysis of all of the muscles of the body under our control — including muscles that allow for breathing, speaking, and swallowing. — Christopher Campos, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026 As humans prepare to return to the Moon and journey onward to Mars, even the simple act of swallowing could play a small but important role in whether those missions succeed. — Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swallowing
  1. sipping
  2. suppressing
  3. believing
  4. chewing
  5. stifling
  6. taking
  7. drinking
  8. accepting
Verb
  • Though it’s made from activewear fabric, if your vacation itinerary demands a few nights out, this dress will work for dancing under palm trees and sipping sunset cocktails.
    — Mariette Williams, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Once in Alba, travelers are free to explore on their own, and there are plenty of culinary adventures to embark upon, from browsing seasonal markets, to sipping local wine in historic bars, and visiting artisanal chocolate shops.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of sipping
Verb
  • In that sense, emotional intelligence becomes less about suppressing feelings than directing them productively.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The men now rising through the security establishment have spent their careers confronting enemies abroad and suppressing dissent at home.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of suppressing
Verb
  • Encouraged by his son, Michael, Storch held talks over becoming a minority shareholder at Reading alongside fellow American Rob Couhig, before believing a full takeover of Cardiff City was possible following their relegation to League One.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Tens of thousands of people showing up believing that something was going to happen to them that night, and handing you that certainty.
    — Jeff Rabhan, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of believing
Verb
  • If left untreated, gum disease can spread to the bones surrounding your gums, making chewing painful.
    — Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Given that walnuts are a source of fiber, Stefanski suggests adding them to your diet gradually, chewing thoroughly, and drinking enough water.
    — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of chewing
Verb
  • Many of those who died were elderly, often alone, in a stifling house or apartment.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
  • This prompted backlash from critics, who felt that the platforms were stifling free speech or putting their thumb on the scale politically.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of stifling
Verb
  • Towns and cities are enacting bans on construction seemingly by the day, including in nearby areas in Washington, out of fears of higher electricity bills, pollution and AI taking their jobs.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Skubal also issued two walks and hit a batter with a pitch in just his second career appearance at Dodger Stadium, taking the mound nine days after the defending champions acquired him from Detroit in the biggest trade of the deadline.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of taking
Verb
  • If the bladder is already full and there’s nowhere to go, drinking even more fluid is only going to make the problem worse.
    — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026
  • By contrast, another participant recalled disagreeing with a friend who believed drinking soda and eating fast food was harmless, a belief the participant considered factually wrong.
    — Andras Molnar, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of drinking
Verb
  • At least two San Francisco home listings seen by CNN this spring said the sellers would consider accepting shares of OpenAI or Anthropic as payment.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The shelter is still accepting stray animals, Cannon said, but due to space limitations, they’re limited in their ability to accept owner surrenders.
    — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of accepting

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swallowed
swallowing
swallows
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Cite this Entry

“Swallowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swallowing. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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