swat 1 of 2

noun

Definition of swatnext
as in slap
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument the impatient toddler got a swat on his wrist for stepping into the street by himself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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swat

2 of 2

verb

ˈswät How to pronounce swat (audio)
as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner didn't sleep a wink all night because she was too busy swatting mosquitoes

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 swat
Noun
Cats may flick their tails, flatten their ears, crouch, hiss or swat before escalating. — Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Mar. 2026 The swat helped Arkansas survive for an 83-79 win at Oklahoma on Tuesday night. — Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The swatting incident was an escalation in a series of threats to Doe’s safety that have roiled her family this week. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 Winston swatted away the Giants’ trade for McCarthy as a reason for urgency on his part. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swat
  1. slap
  2. smack
  3. thump
  4. slam
  5. blow
  6. knock
  7. thud
  8. hit
Noun
  • Communicating entirely through percussive movements and sounds and enough slaps to make the Three Stooges envious, the wild-haired creatures mainly seem to be auditioning for their own big-screen spin-off to compete with the Minions.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2026
  • During initial ride tests, mechanical chain slap and drivetrain vibrations echoed loudly through the structure, creating a persistent clattering that detracts from any quiet ride through nature.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of slap
Verb
  • Nutella, dulce de leche, cheesecake bites and the mini chocolate chips all got smacked with Stop Sales.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Wilson met him there, timing his jump to match the guard at the peak of his trajectory and smack the ball away with his right hand.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of smack
Noun
  • But the knock on them has been the lack of thump in their lineup.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The brutalist thump of drummer Moe Tucker renders the showmen in Led Zeppelin and the Who irrelevant.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of thump
Verb
  • Over the summer, Raman slammed Bass for pausing a bike lane and street safety improvement project near two cemeteries along Forest Lawn Drive that had come under fire by some in Raman’s district.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The great danger, though, and one that fully manifests here, is that speechifying like Claire’s slams up against the fourth wall and ricochets back at her.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of slam
Noun
  • Miller counts his share of backers on the right, and his elevation will deliver a boost to Trump’s faithful after the resounding blow of Tuesday’s election.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The visit marked the first in-person contact between Russian and US officials since Tuesday’s midterm elections, when Democrats ousted Republicans from control of Congress in a blow to Trump.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of blow
Verb
  • Notably, Wendy’s let rival Burger King surpass it in US sales this year, knocking it down to the country’s third-biggest burger chain.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • After its first outing, Clinton got a handrail to hold onto because the crowd’s reaction had nearly knocked him off the platform.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of knock
Noun
  • The News OpenAI’s attempt to rebrand data centers and set a new tone for AI policy discourse after the midterms is landing with a thud in some circles, including with members of Congress.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • With each impact, Sarah’s face disintegrates into a bloodier pulp, her bone structure buckling under every successive thud until Nikki has finally and irrevocably rendered the character a faceless corpse.
    — Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of thud
Verb
  • Moderna just hit a new high The stock is up about 36% in a month.
    — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Because their immune systems are still developing, influenza can hit them hard and fast and can quickly spiral into serious complications including pneumonia, extreme dehydration, brain inflammation or death.
    — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of hit

Browse Nearby Words

swashing
swat
swatch
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Cite this Entry

“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swat. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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