1
as in bumping
to come into usually forceful contact with something
a blindfolded partygoer swiping at the piñata with a stick spent most of the camping trip swiping mosquitos
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slapping
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
that car just swiped the fender of our car
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in stealing
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
somebody swiped the stop sign that used to be on the corner left his phone at the library and it got swiped
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 swiping
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
After dropping them off in a narrow street, Rojas started swiping through the app for a new passenger.
—Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
One user says the Wi-Fi turns off when unlocking the device, or swiping down on the lock screen to access the notification center.
—PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
In La Cañada Flintridge, California, Chris Yee caught a bold brown bear raiding the family’s garage fridge and swiping a slice of watermelon.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Mookie Betts chopped a grounder to charging shortstop Willy Adames, who threw home in time to get Rortvedt, but Bailey was unable to secure the ball before swiping his tag on Rortvedt, who scored on the miscue for a 1-0 lead.
—Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
From swiping her mom’s lipsticks to watching countless tutorials and hauls, beauty has been her creative outlet since childhood.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Navigating through your book can be done by setting up the volume keys to turn the pages, swiping left or right with your fingers, or activating one of the nine ‘hotspots’ on the screen to page forward, page back, or access the settings on the Boox reader app.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Machado stole his 13th base, which is his most in a season since swiping 14 in 2018.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Find a way to limit endless swiping or late-night chats that drain you emotionally, and resist the pressure to respond immediately.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
In the viral video shared on social media, Nina Miller, wearing Giants gear, is seen swiping the headband from the boy.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
After dropping them off in a narrow street, Rojas started swiping through the app for a new passenger.
—Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
One user says the Wi-Fi turns off when unlocking the device, or swiping down on the lock screen to access the notification center.
—PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
In La Cañada Flintridge, California, Chris Yee caught a bold brown bear raiding the family’s garage fridge and swiping a slice of watermelon.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Mookie Betts chopped a grounder to charging shortstop Willy Adames, who threw home in time to get Rortvedt, but Bailey was unable to secure the ball before swiping his tag on Rortvedt, who scored on the miscue for a 1-0 lead.
—Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
From swiping her mom’s lipsticks to watching countless tutorials and hauls, beauty has been her creative outlet since childhood.
—Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
Navigating through your book can be done by setting up the volume keys to turn the pages, swiping left or right with your fingers, or activating one of the nine ‘hotspots’ on the screen to page forward, page back, or access the settings on the Boox reader app.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Machado stole his 13th base, which is his most in a season since swiping 14 in 2018.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swiping
Noun
-
Online court records indicated to investigators that Arfsten was released on bail in a felony theft case at the time of the South Milwaukee incident.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Some of the commandments overlap with criminal law, such as prohibitions on murder and theft, but others do not.—
Jessie Balmert,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This boundary-breaking dance drama follows Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze) in a wrong-side-of-the-tracks romantic entanglement that all starts with a rousing night of bumping and grinding.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Only 11% of drivers in the study admitted to violent road rage behaviors in the last year, such as bumping other cars on purpose or confronting other drivers.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By slapping a $100,000 filing fee on H=1B visas, the White House has declared the days of cheap labor pipelines and visa abuse officially over.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
On the knee-to-knee collision between each team’s superstar, Collier badly rolled her left ankle and was lying on the floor and slapping the court with her hand as Thomas made her drive.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What he’s actually done is fake his death to create a template for a new life by stealing $90 million from a client of his crooked law firm.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
-
One man was arrested and accused of stealing a golf cart.—
Bob Harkins,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kirk followed Guerrero the next inning, slamming the first of his two homers over the outfield wall.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Nonprofit watchdog group Human Rights Watch and fellow comedians like David Cross and Marc Maron, however, are saying otherwise, accusing the festival of deflecting from the country's human rights violations and slamming their peers for their involvement.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The Dodgers are one of the better teams in baseball at hitting changeups from lefties like Sánchez.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The critique, rooted in research and observations about generational values and preparedness, is now colliding with practical workplace realities, as managers and educators scramble to bridge gaps between Gen Z expectations and employer demands.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
No photograph could catch the smell drifting from the nearby military barracks and Indian camps; capture the murmured swirl of French, English, Arapaho, and Lakota; or let a viewer feel the colliding anxieties and expectations that hung heavy over negotiations like this.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Really, there’s only one character onstage who commands an audience’s attention, and that’s Hines’ gum-smacking sister-in-law, who turns from antagonist to supporter.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Cal Raleigh tied Mickey Mantle for most home runs in one season for a switch hitter after smacking his 54th dinger yesterday.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swiping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swiping. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share