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
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
Noun
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swash
Verb
  • The pair finally splashed down off the Florida coast with three other astronauts Tuesday.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • The Dolphins and Steelers’ midday Monday trade splashed across the front of the ESPN website with one of those red-banner ‘breaking news’ alerts.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • Fucci, who was staying near the Guadalupe River, filmed on her phone a torrent of muddy water flooding the road to her grandmother's house.
    Susan Miller, USA Today, 6 July 2025
  • Trump’s second term has unleashed a torrent of assaults on protest and dissent, from revoking visas and disappearing activists, to withholding federal funds from universities that won’t dismantle diversity initiatives.
    Time, Time, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • To use that word swagger yet again, the Boston baseball community would be better served if the Red Sox returned to the days of organizational swagger.
    Steve Buckley, New York Times, 7 July 2025
  • Still, Crockett infuses the song with his signature soulful musical swagger.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • The shockwave caused by the tragedy is still rippling through the football world.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 5 July 2025
  • That same uncertainty is rippling through Asheville’s lodging industry, where some hotel managers say most reservations are now made the day of.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • The focus is on the Bangs Lake outfall control structure, which is currently maintained by manually making adjustments to the sluice gate.
    Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • Above all, LuPone is dramatic in the Broadway-lineage sense: There is a grandeur to her banter and her sass is playing all the way to the seats at the back.
    Raven Smith, Vogue, 28 May 2025
  • Einstein lives up to her name with sass and smarts, the diva of the bunch.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • There, it was successfully utilized to help spawning American shad and blueback herring bypass a spillway located between Lake Marion and the Santee River.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 May 2025
  • 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
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 10 Jul. 2025.

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