as in smacking
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
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Recent Examples of swatting
On the earlier date, police were reportedly called to one of the houses after a swatting incident falsely reported a shooting and a dead female victim.
—
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Falsely reporting an emergency to prompt a significant law enforcement response is known as swatting, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
In the other social media post, prosecutors said Curcio included instructions for swatting the ICE lawyer.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2025
So, a fledgling unit of the service set out six months ago to unmask the layers of burner phones, changing phone numbers and SIM cards swatting American officials.
—John Miller, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Activities froze in places like Virginia State University after a swatting call and at Southern University in Louisiana, where classes have already been cancelled through the weekend, another swatting call put the entire campus on high alert.
—ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
Also known as swatting, they're defined as false reports of serious crimes intended to spark a heavy law enforcement response.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
On Monday, the University of Colorado Boulder was targeted in a swatting incident, a false report of an active shooter that led to a three-hour campus disruption.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Falsely reporting an emergency to prompt a significant law enforcement response is known as swatting, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
In the other social media post, prosecutors said Curcio included instructions for swatting the ICE lawyer.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2025
So, a fledgling unit of the service set out six months ago to unmask the layers of burner phones, changing phone numbers and SIM cards swatting American officials.
—John Miller, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Activities froze in places like Virginia State University after a swatting call and at Southern University in Louisiana, where classes have already been cancelled through the weekend, another swatting call put the entire campus on high alert.
—ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
Also known as swatting, they're defined as false reports of serious crimes intended to spark a heavy law enforcement response.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
On Monday, the University of Colorado Boulder was targeted in a swatting incident, a false report of an active shooter that led to a three-hour campus disruption.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swatting
Verb
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The two had a peculiar conversation where Hawkins said Clifton missed smacking her rear end.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
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The first of 12 projects outlined in the book is a literal slapstick, the classic vaudeville tool used to imitate the sound of smacking someone with a stick.—
Michael Roberts,
Outside,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Another victim came to court, recounting a history of domestic abuse including choking and slapping by the defendant.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
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Payton lit into Moss on the sideline, slapping his clipboard, after the cornerback got a bit too handsy with Giants receiver Beaux Collins in the end zone.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gausman had retired 17 straight Dodger batters until the seventh inning, when Smith yet again got the best of him, hitting a solo home run to break the stale mate.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The singing voices behind KPop Demon Hunters' beloved girl group HUNTR/X will be hitting the stage to perform live in concert for the first time.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Back in 1961, residents of Capitola woke up to find that hordes of black seabirds were slamming into cars, windows and people's homes and dying.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Ford said earlier that his province was spending $75 million to run ads in the United States slamming the impact of tariffs and featuring clips of Reagan.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Known as knockers in England, kobolds also live in caves and mines and make knocking noises directing human miners where to dig.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sam Khan spent some time inside the North Texas program for a look at how the Mean Green are punching above their weight.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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The student who Kamo’s son was initially trying to avoid began punching him.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Maeve is in the hen house with Jayson, banging his gun around and nearly strangling her.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
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The audience is put into her shoes, only able to decipher what is going on by listening to the men banging around the house trying to kill her.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The robot showcased exemplary skills with the bat, whacking the ball precisely in a rally of over 100 shots with human-like agility.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
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New York put the screws to its division rival on Tuesday, whacking nine home runs to cruise to a 13-3 victory.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swatting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swatting. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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