swats 1 of 2

noun

Definition of swatsnext
plural of swat
as in slaps
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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swats

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of swat
as in smacks
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 swats
Noun
The Wolverines had only three swats against Arizona, but that was a 91-73 win in a game that was supposed to be the best of the tournament but turned into something else. — CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
What’s next, a robotic baseball player named Babe that swats 500-foot home runs and throws 120 mph pitches, eclipsing Shohei Ohtani’s real-life achievements and commanding a billion dollar contract? — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 And when Melbourne still attempts to challenge the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Wilson swats it away with ease. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025 Thumps sound, and his arm disappears as someone swats it down. — Sahana Jayaraman, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swats
  1. slaps
  2. smacks
  3. swipes
  4. knocks
  5. thumps
  6. hits
  7. punches
  8. slams
Noun
  • Devers petulantly left the field, avoided handshakes and butt slaps in the dugout, and retreated to the clubhouse.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Whoever loses slaps the other in the face with a tortilla, usually causing water to spray out of their mouth.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026
Definition of slaps
Verb
  • The boy smacks him in the mouth and then immediately starts crying.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026
  • An attack rears its ugly head, and the security team smacks it down.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of smacks
Noun
  • Think of it like a team of pickpockets, one of which walks up to ask you for directions while the other swipes your wallet.
    — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 10 July 2026
  • Make careful vertical swipes, run the vegetable peeler down the sides of the fruit, following its curves to trim closely between the skin and the flesh.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Definition of swipes
Verb
  • My parents tell stories about me sleeping through loud construction, alarms, and heavy knocks on my bedroom door.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
  • Palestra instead knocks it past him with his right foot with great balance in a tight space.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 27 June 2026
Definition of knocks
Noun
  • Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
  • You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.
    — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Definition of thumps
Verb
  • Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 July 2026
  • When a large body hits, some of the impact energy goes into vaporizing or melting rock right at the impact site.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 5 July 2026
Definition of hits
Noun
  • There was a June 1977 friendly in Buenos Aires where punches were thrown and players were ejected.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2026
  • But the Azteca started to change that, with that long second half rearguard, the deep 5-3-1, those endless headers and blocks and punches.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of punches
Verb
  • This is happening as a demographic shift to an older, grayer population slams Colorado.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
  • Taylor Sheridan slams critics Sheridan's series are all hits with regular people, but he's routinely been a target for critics.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of slams

Browse Nearby Words

swaths
swats
swatted
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Cite this Entry

“Swats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swats. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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