swatting

present participle of swat

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 swatting In May, Barrett’s security detail worked with police to quickly deal with the call determined to be swatting, or a fake 911 call designed to provoke a police response. ABC News, 14 July 2026 Kessler catches an empty side screen involving Anfernee Simons and calmly plays in drop, backpedals smoothly, slides laterally for a stride, opens his hips and tricks Simons to shoot before swatting it away with his left hand. Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 July 2026 The worry was that adding sixteen teams would mean blowouts, the big sides swatting away the small ones. Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 Another customer said Roberts was also seen kicking and swatting chickens outside the store. Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 18 June 2026 Liam Owen, of Boise, who worked as an aircraft mechanic for Horizon Airlines, documented the date of the incident as May 28, when high winds swept through the Treasure Valley, fanning the flames of fires, swatting down trees and power lines, and causing tens of thousands to lose power. Idaho Statesman, 16 June 2026 Police are investigating a swatting incident that targeted a school and Walmart in Hamden on Wednesday. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026 Staal lost his edge on his skate, but that didn’t stop him from swatting a back-handed shot of his own toward the net. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026 Wembanyama reacted by swatting Brunson away, placing his hand near the back of Brunson’s neck and pushing him to the floor. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swatting
Verb
  • With a Triple-A pitcher called up for a spot start and a utilityman smacking an early two-run homer, the Boston Red Sox, having now won eight straight games, keep winning with an unlikely formula.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • The first mode is a more simple impact detonation — simply put, smacking the asteroid's surface to create a shallow crater, in which a nuclear device is exploded.
    Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • There was more talk of hitting a provisional, but Spieth refused.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • That cool air crashes toward the ground, then spreads outward in every direction like water hitting the floor.
    Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • But when their panel ended, the sports stars got into a heated exchange that ended with Brady slapping Paul in the face.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • As seen in a video posted by Fanatics on Instagram and X, the former NFL quarterback traded words with Paul face-to-face before slapping him, and was ultimately pulled away.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
Verb
  • With men on first and second against Andrew Alvarez (2-3), Rice hit a drive on the fourth straight curveball from Alvarez that center fielder Dylan Crews was unable to catch while slamming into the wall.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 July 2026
  • Six fighting bulls and their steers repeatedly knocked runners to the cobblestones, with one bull breaking from the herd and slamming into a cluster of unsuspecting participants.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • But the opportunity to grab more shares might come knocking again if an encouraging report Wednesday is met with more profit-taking.
    Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 14 July 2026
  • Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • But that hasn’t stopped one of the country’s increasingly renowned grape-growing regions from punching well above its weight.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 July 2026
  • Video footage of the incident appears to show two officers struggling with Hardy, with one of them punching her before taking her to the ground.
    Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Then the team did it, sitting on the field after beating Ivory Coast to reach the round of 16, with captain Martin Odegaard banging the drum.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • And on bikes no-one sane would ever consider banging around a racetrack on.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Larry Hayes, 86, and Bill Moniz, 79, hit the tennis courts in Mountain View three to four times a week — whacking balls across the net as teammates for one to three hours a week.
    Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
  • And the crowd clearly expected that pucks whacking the nets would be at a premium in this series, too.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swatting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swatting. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on swatting

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!