SWALLOWS Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

swallows 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of swallow

as in sips

to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat try not to swallow the toothpaste

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in stifles

to refrain from openly showing or uttering swallowed his pride and asked for help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in believes

to regard as right or true my little niece swallows everything I tell her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swallows

2 of 2

noun

plural of swallow

as in gulps

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 swallows

Verb

Even more so in Bates’ home of Aroostook County, which swallows some 6,700 square miles way up near the Canadian border. — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 In many of his shots, the big sky of Ukraine’s fields and steppe swallows the frame. — Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 10 Oct. 2026 Social Security swallows nearly a quarter of the federal budget and is less than a decade away from insolvency. — Andrew G. Biggs, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026 If your dog swallows these fibers, it can get caught up in the digestive tract like hair in plumbing and create a blockage. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Yancy falls to the ground, and the hallway effectively swallows him up, leaving him heartbroken and alone. — Barry Levitt, Time, 23 July 2026 There also tends to be an excess of fabric to accommodate differing torso lengths, which swallows my 5-foot-2 frame. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 21 July 2026 The film’s goldfish-eating scene, in which Donnie swallows a broker’s pet to punish him for slacking off, really happened. — Jp Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 14 July 2026 Infant botulism begins when a child swallows food containing bacterial spores, which produce toxins in the intestines. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Noun

Under Baizhan’s shanyrak, a spiral of ceramic swallows and poppies soars toward the sky. — Yulia Denisyuk, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026 In the winter, the swallows can be found between the southern United States and Central America. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 Like swallows returning home, more than 100,000 Penn State faithful flock to the fields surrounding Beaver Stadium six times a fall. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 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 Four-year-old Juni Wahab was entranced by the sight of the swallows and cormorants swooping low overhead and the rushing twists of water. — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 Birds such as swifts, swallows, sparrows, and starlings, which make their nests in the eaves of roofs, have been particularly affected by abnormally high temperatures, said Romaine de Jaegere, founder of the Center for the Rehabilitation of Animals Living in the Wild refuge in Temploux, in Belgium. — Makini Brice, USA Today, 23 June 2026 Sparrows, starlings, bluebirds, swallows, ravens, pigeons, and crows can become nuisance birds, causing damage and health risks. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 13 June 2026 Alfalfa grown for cattle feed swallows 26% of all water consumed in the basin, more than every city in the region combined. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 8 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swallows

Verb

The crowd sips matcha dragon fruit cocktails and stares, aghast.

— Dina Cheney, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2026
California returns to its original brand collaboration with BLQK coffee, and the team sips espresso during timeouts.

— Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of sips

Verb

Perhaps her biggest challenge is combating the misconception that cystic fibrosis has been cured, which stifles investment into new treatments.

— Gerry Smith, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Opponents argue the proposal weakens environmental protections, stifles community input and could fast-track projects like data centers and freeways.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of stifles

Verb

Larter believes engineers could develop similar mechanisms for hundreds of ordnance types.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Without a clear owner, those recommendations circulate and generate input, and often the leader believes the recommendations turn into action.

— Maureen Metcalf, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of believes

Verb

Recycle Other Parts Remember that recycling your pumpkins doesn’t have to mean that the wildlife eats the fleshy orange stuff directly.

— Sarah Everett, The Spruce, 2 Nov. 2026
It’s served split open, face down, drenched in the peppery sauce, and eats almost like an au jus sandwich.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of eats

Verb

And not to stress anybody out further, but high cortisol suppresses your immune system and increases inflammation, both of which lead to things like quicker aging and poor long-term health outcomes.

— Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
In recent years, the unit has been the target of public scrutiny for their aggressive response and policing of demonstrations, with some critics saying the unit suppresses people’s right to free speech.

— Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of suppresses

Verb

As mentioned, this new skin trend takes its name from mochi, a traditional Japanese rice cake treat famous for its bouncy texture, plump appearance, and smooth, slightly translucent surface.

— Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
This takes more chutzpah than Ohtani’s insistence to continue as a two-way player.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of takes

Noun

Unlike supplements or drinks that may provide a quick burst of energy followed by a crash, the nutrients found in almonds provide a more sustained source of fuel—slowing digestion and prolonging steady energy without the blood sugar level spikes.

— Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Nov. 2026
Ethanol from alcoholic drinks, limonene from citrus, and diacetyl from buttery aromas are some of the VOCs that can produce these reactions.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of drinks

Browse Nearby Words

swallowing

swallows

swam

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Swallows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swallows. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of swallows

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

effrontery

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes