swash 1 of 2

Definition of swashnext
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 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swash
Verb
  • Clams, splashed in bright and herby broth, were paired with a narcotic mound of thin fries.
    Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Streamers, corporate entities, and big-name superstars have splashed around the same waters as the DIY SoundCloud nerds.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Perhaps it was lost in the Christmastime shuffle, or in the torrent of other deals and investments that have been flowing from the world’s most valuable company over the past year.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Most disappointing has been the torrent of negative reaction from engagement-farmers, emotional Bryant fans and others who seem to be looking to be outraged.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Pompano Beach, an oceanfront town long known for its low-key vibe, has more of a high-class swagger these days.
    Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
  • No team has a better vibe going into the playoffs and there’s a ton of swagger for a roster (and city) that’s been waiting for this moment.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • When funding for these services is cut, the consequences ripple through neighborhoods.
    Cordell Cleare, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
  • But scientists have only tuned into this music of the spheres for about a decade, thanks to sophisticated observatories that were custom-built to pick up these reverberations—gravitational waves—which ripple otherwise unnoticed through the fabric of spacetime.
    K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Dump the remaining gravel through a sluice box to remove lighter sand and small rocks, which filter into a gold pan.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The farm also offers other events including a sweet pea maze (included with admission), $8 wagon tours, gold sluice mining, wine tasting, crafts, yoga, sound baths and more at additional cost.
    Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • While a small role in terms of solo singing, Maddison stood out with her one liners, sass, and overall commitment to her character.
    Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Okay, Joy, get in there with the sass!
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Use spillway to regulate Without that outlet, potentially for years, dam operators will use its spillway, higher on the wall of the dam, to regulate the river.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 17 Mar. 2026
  • In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water.
    Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The closest the data center would be to Weston Gardens is 370 feet, said Riley, due to a wooded floodway and floodplain between the Black Mountain property and Weston’s.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Call it resilience, call it infrastructure, call it economic development—just build it before the next 8-year-old goes to sleep in a floodway.
    Daniel Lehewych, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swash. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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