1
as in gorging
to eat greedily or to excess
they can spend hours at the pub, drinking, chatting, and swilling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sipping
to swallow in liquid form
they gathered in the break room each morning to swill coffee together before the morning meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of swilling
There’s the youngest, most freewheeling son’s habit of swilling cold coffee while watching The Gong Show.
—
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Spirit swilling was down 5% in California, compared with a 4% drop nationwide.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
Cate Blanchett, ‘Blue Jasmine’ (2014) Blanchett delivers an enjoyably tragicomic turn in Woody Allen's dramedy as a booze-swilling, Xanax-popping hot mess.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
People who would never be caught dead swilling neon fizz from a camouflage can were suddenly consuming a drink that was materially the same, but was being sold by exploiting a different set of unattainable aspirations, using a different vocabulary.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Vicky Dawson is loopy and judgmental as Becca’s wine-swilling mom Nat.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Editors and influencers piled into the train-carriage narrow Ojii restaurant on the Left Bank, swilling lychee martinis and Champagne before settling in for rounds of wagyu beef, tuna tartare, tempura and — of course — sushi.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025
Fighting off hordes of alien monstrosities AND digging for rare minerals in outer space as a crew of beer-swilling, ass kicking space dwarves?
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Spirit swilling was down 5% in California, compared with a 4% drop nationwide.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
Cate Blanchett, ‘Blue Jasmine’ (2014) Blanchett delivers an enjoyably tragicomic turn in Woody Allen's dramedy as a booze-swilling, Xanax-popping hot mess.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
People who would never be caught dead swilling neon fizz from a camouflage can were suddenly consuming a drink that was materially the same, but was being sold by exploiting a different set of unattainable aspirations, using a different vocabulary.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026
Vicky Dawson is loopy and judgmental as Becca’s wine-swilling mom Nat.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Editors and influencers piled into the train-carriage narrow Ojii restaurant on the Left Bank, swilling lychee martinis and Champagne before settling in for rounds of wagyu beef, tuna tartare, tempura and — of course — sushi.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025
Fighting off hordes of alien monstrosities AND digging for rare minerals in outer space as a crew of beer-swilling, ass kicking space dwarves?
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swilling
Verb
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But gorging on pollen alone wasn’t enough to lengthen a life.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
-
With the third season of ‘The Vampire Lestat’–AMC’s series adaptation of Anne Rice’s iconic vampire novels of the same name–underway, viewers are once again gorging on a visual feast thanks to costume designer Lex Wood.—
Caroline Reilly,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Husband-and-wife team Andrew Levitas and Katherine Jenkins created the Welsh spirit so that Jenkins, a classical singer, could enjoy sipping a gin smooth enough not to affect her voice.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
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Dig your toes in the sand while sipping a mai tai and munching on the restaurant’s famous Bimini Bread with Aruba Glaze and whipped honey butter.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
When nutrient levels are high, feasting algae can quickly reproduce.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Consider transplanting smaller plants farther away so that feasting birds will leave their messy droppings elsewhere.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
There was an increase in drinking from 2021 to 2023 among San Diego Unified high school students, especially those 18 and older.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 June 2026
-
Also in Boston, Scottish World Cup supporters impressed locals after reportedly drinking several bars dry.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Others can’t stand the sound of gulping.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
This viral anti-slip slow feeder lick bowl helps prevent gulping and bloating, while keeping your dogs entertained for longer with a healthy, fun challenge.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swilling. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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