1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

swish 1 of 3

noun

Definition of swishnext
1
as in whistle
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out the steady swish of the windshield wipers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in flap
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down the mare brushed away the flies with a sweeping swish of her tail

Synonyms & Similar Words

swish

2 of 3

verb

ˈswish How to pronounce swish (audio)
1
as in to hiss
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ with their satin costumes swishing, the little ballerinas chasséd onto the stage

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to flick
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions the horse's tail swishes after every jump

Synonyms & Similar Words

swish

3 of 3

adjective

as in stylish
being in the latest or current fashion a trendy boutique filled with swish accessories for the urban fashionista

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 swish
Noun
Mullins launched a shot from 35 feet and … swish. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026 Their play is a symphony of cheers and swishes, conversation and laughter, dribbling balls and rattling rims. — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
The life-size robotic elephants in Prasanth Prakashan's backyard workshop have ears that flap, tails that swish and trunks that squirt water. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 This was supposed to be magic, swished in from waaaaay downtown. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026
Adjective
There isn’t a fitness centre on site, but guests get free day passes to the swish Bodytech gym, which is a 10-minute walk away. — Laura French, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026 There was more intrigue at the annual UTA, Curtis Brown And C&W at the Bo Tree Hotel’s swish Lavo, where new Channel 4 boss Priya Dogra was spotted chewing the fat with UTA top brass, including Curtis Brown CEO Jonny Geller. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swish
  1. whistle
  2. flap
  3. hiss
  4. flick
  5. stylish
  6. zip
  7. whisk
  8. swing
Noun
  • Georgia Tech appeared to have run back a long fumble return to score the first points, but the play was ruled dead, the whistle having blown before the fumble.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Turns out, that advice might have been useful far beyond the final whistle.
    — Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of whistle
Noun
  • The flap followed Carr’s call for stronger enforcement of the equal-time rule.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The part that was chewed was the part that goes over your instep, a kind of flap or lip.
    — Lydia Davis, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of flap
Verb
  • Scientists previously created tiny diving suits for Madagascar hissing cockroaches that could be used in perilous search operations, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But delivering that level of craft in a high-octane room where the hissing espresso machine competes with the bassline?
    — Carly Boers, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiss
Verb
  • Fernandes then flicks the ball to his team-mate and Mainoo rattles the woodwork, with Anderson unable to block the shot.
    — Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Other vipers are known to flick their tails, especially baby vipers with bright green or neon yellow tail tips that might appear like a wiggly worm to unsuspecting frogs.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of flick
Adjective
  • Next on my list are a few pairs of new shoes that will be versatile and functional, but still stylish—I’m not asking much, right?
    — Natalie LaBarbera, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Grab this stylish pair of wireless headphones today for just $79.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of stylish
Noun
  • Walking through a historic cathedral in zip-off cargo pants and a neon-yellow souvenir shirt broadcasts your status as an outsider.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The next year, Hermès launched the Bolide, thought to be the first handbag to use a zip closure.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • Morton kosher salt to starch left in bowl and whisk to combine.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Stir together cornstarch and remaining 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl; whisk into sauce mixture.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of whisk
Verb
  • They are populated by characters who swing between extremes, people on the verge of disappearing one minute and of being too forward the next, either revealing too much or too little.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Steinem's version of feminism today is more aligned with Democrats at a time when, at least for now, the country has swung Republican.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of swing

Browse Nearby Words

swirly
swish
swished
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swish. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on swish

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about swish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of facsimile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All