swash 1 of 2

1
as in to splash
to move with a splashing motion waves gently swashing against the shore

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to slosh
to cause (something liquid or mushy) to move along in sheets every bump in the road swashed a little more of my soda on the car's upholstery

Synonyms & Similar Words

swash

2 of 2

noun

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 swash
Verb
Recurring character Goro Majima swashes his buckles as the sole protagonist, taking to the seas having suffered from an almighty case of pirate amnesia. Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
Mole crabs burrow themselves in the intertidal swash zone but leave their antennae exposed above the surface to trap food like algae and plankton. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025 This cushiony highlighter deposits a swash of subtle champagne, rose quartz, or gold while the squalane (the secret star of the show) provides moisture for a long-lasting look that provides a skin-like, never cakey, finish. Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 5 Oct. 2024 The dessert menu is just as backward-looking (or, more generously, classic-minded) as the savory offerings: cheesecake with a swash of berry sauce, dark chocolate pot de crème. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 30 June 2024 Other dishes were similarly transcendent: a slab of duck breast was tender and rare, with crisp skin and a dazzling swash of orange sauce. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024 Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadow Hourglass’s Scattered Light Eyeshadow is a fun date night accessory thanks to a swash of sparkle that’s easy to apply: just a few dabs of product onto your eyelid, and the pearls will reflect light beautifully. Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 28 Sep. 2023 Some big trout are still in the swash on the beach at dawn, though this action will slow as the water continues to warm—topwaters get them. Frank Sargeant, al, 18 June 2021 Glow Set a travel necessity—perfect for quick makeup touch-ups, passing through TSA, or a shimmering swash of color. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2021 Hollywood’s history is rich with swash-buckling scenes. Allison Prang, WSJ, 22 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swash
Verb
  • The capsule splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,240 miles off the Brazilian coast.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
  • And here came Patsy, who put bright white circles of fresh mozz, fresh tomato, and it was splashed around the pie, not ladled.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • At the start of April a deadly torrent of rains caused flooding across the Midwest, as days of severe storms ravaged much of the central part of the United States.
    Amy Graff, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • President Donald Trump has unleashed a torrent of protectionist fervor, stoking fears far beyond U.S. borders.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Even if anyone can join Sunset Tennis Clubs, that doesn’t mean their events are entirely devoid of the old-money swagger often spotted on L.A. tennis courts.
    Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
  • Affleck’s choices span generations and styles, from the gritty storytelling of Slick Rick and the pioneering West Coast swagger of Eazy-E, to the prolific lyricism of Lil Wayne and the Pulitzer Prize-winning artistry of Kendrick Lamar.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. government debt is rippling through Wall Street on Monday, and CNBC’s Jim Cramer said there is a crucial difference between now and the past two times a credit-rating agency cut its outlook on Uncle Sam’s bonds.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 19 May 2025
  • The book, an oral history told by the artists who were there, also ripples with the vibes of SoCal, thanks especially to lifers like the Agnew Brothers (the Adolescents), Dexter Holland and Noodles (the Offspring), and Mike Ness, the founder and frontman of the enduring Social Distortion.
    Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Still, on May 4, India lowered sluice gates at the Baglihar dam, effectively reducing the downstream flow to Pakistan through the Chenab River by up to 90%, according to the Hindustan Times.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 7 May 2025
  • This option returns the pond to its full former glory including sluice gate repair, dredging the full pond area and recreational enhancements to include 5.7 acres of open water and two fishing platforms.
    Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The Innocents Abroad is written with a new curiosity and sass, unburdened by any lingering sense of inferiority to Europe.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
  • Officials have responded to the text-thread security failure and other weighty controversies with sass and indifference.
    Noah Rothman, National Review, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • While most dams rely on spillways shaped like chutes or shafts to drain the overage, the dam at Lake Berryessa uses a funnel-like spillway due to lack of space, per local news outlet The Press Democrat.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Usually, water flows from a spillway inside the wall into a basin below.
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Occasionally, the Army Corps will open spillways and floodways that are designed to divert floodwaters during extreme weather events.
    Amy Graff, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • The organization also manages the area’s floodways, including the Central City Flood Control Project, which would create new bypass channels that are an integral part of future Panther Island development.
    Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swash. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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