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
  • These 16 slaps are lucid and adventurous, featuring random Jay Electronica warblings, DJ Quik rhythms, and a couple of surprisingly appropriate Westside Gunn vignettes.
    — Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Mother was the destination, but the slaps, pineapple, goat, and countless detours made the journey worthwhile.
    — Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of slaps
Verb
  • In a fight with yet more mercenaries, Reacher smacks a gun out of a guy’s hand using one of Philadelphia’s moving subway trains.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Other gamblers just don’t want to get swindled, so anything that smacks too clearly of insider trading can get you in trouble.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of smacks
Noun
  • The display glasses didn’t always respond to thumb swipes and sometimes lagged after voice commands.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • According to RevitaLash, apply a few swipes of the serum to clean lashes once per day.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of swipes
Verb
  • After making the deal with CBS, a local ranger knocks on Kaczynski’s cabin door and claims that local copper miners are interested in inspecting the property lines around the land.
    — Jane LaCroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The Eagles defender Brandon Graham fends off a Patriots offensive lineman, reaches his left hand out, and knocks the ball loose from Brady’s grip.
    — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of knocks
Noun
  • The lower-vocal harmony struggles to stand out any time the deeper bass thumps.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Definition of thumps
Verb
  • The incoming wave hits a slanted wall, bounces off at an angle, and rapidly spirals into complete unpredictability.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
  • An old-school shag hairstyle traditionally hits between the collarbone and chest, but face shape and hair texture should dictate your most flattering length.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of hits
Noun
  • And by the way, with how shifty rookie Emmett Johnson has been at this level, Kansas City may quietly have one of the league’s best one-two punches.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • According to court testimony, Griffin’s younger brother had gotten into an argument; punches were thrown, and the younger brother fell or was pushed.
    — Jenisha Watts, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of punches
Verb
  • There are currently more than 85,000 customers without power across the Northeast, including New York City and Connecticut, as an intensifying early-season nor’easter slams the region with strong wind, soaking rain and coastal flooding.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Not thunder, not cobwebs, not a door that slams itself for union reasons.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 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 4 Oct. 2026.

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