swish 1 of 3

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

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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

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swish

2 of 3

verb

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

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2

swish

3 of 3

adjective

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
Wipe toothpaste splatters from the mirror, run a cloth over the counters, and give the toilet bowl a quick swish. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025 With a swish of a wand and stir of a cauldron, Practical Magic 2 has officially wrapped production, star Nicole Kidman announced today on Instagram. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
Users can also operate the gimbal's motor manually via its joystick control, or simply swish the whole rig back and forth/up and down by hand. New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025 The Rockets have already started releasing videos of Şengün running pick-and-rolls as the ballhandler and swishing 3-pointers during the first few days of training camp. William Guillory, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Elsewhere on this level is a swish office with a skylight and a plush lounge. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 June 2025 The blend of citrus, peach blossom, lemon, amber, and verbena doesn’t just smell like a swish salon— it was concocted with ingredients that boost the efficacy of the product. Jenny Berg, Allure, 23 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for swish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swish
Noun
  • The redshirt sophomore slowed up to force contact with a trailing Ewin near midcourt and later flung his body on Ewin’s screen for an offensive whistle.
    Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • However, in hindsight, having a whistle—something Dyason never hikes without—would have been much more effective.
    Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Days after he was elected in September, his to-do list got even longer when the Jimmy Kimmel-ABC crisis erupted, followed by the arrival of AI ingenue Tilly Norwood and the Sora 2 flap involving Bryan Cranston.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Then use your right hand to pull that corner up and over the box, allowing the excess paper to fold and crease under the flap.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As always, the kittens will be hissing from a luxury suite a safe distance away from the action.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The heaters hissed and clanked, let off steam, fogged up the windows.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of slamming it home, Antetokounmpo soared over the defenders to make an improbable catch, landed and flicked an on-target pass to Rollins for a corner 3 before falling out of bounds to give Milwaukee a 14-point lead.
    Eric Nehm, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • After initially suspecting a bullet or debris flicked up by a truck, the police ruled out both.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • There is less of an emphasis on styling, and more attention to comfort and stylish practicality.
    Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Sellew is a bold new voice, using sharp, stylish prose to explore the hinterland of contemporary mating.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This pair from Amazon is lightweight enough for all-day wear, features an elastic drawcord for a personalized fit, and even includes two zip pockets to securely store important travel documents.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Levi's 94 Baggy Jeans These super flattering jeans have a mid-rise waist with a zip-and-button fly and a straight-leg silhouette.
    Michelle Rostamian, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Beyond silverware, kitchen tools—like whisks and spatulas—aren’t usually uniform pieces that can be stacked on top of one another in a drawer divider.
    Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The host reenters the room as well with chawan – the whisk – and all the utensils; the tea is served.
    The Conversation, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • At the end of Monday's live Atlas demonstration, the humanoid prototype swung its arms in a theatrical gesture to introduce a static model of the new product version of Atlas, which looked slightly different and was blue in color.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The Chiefs’ special teams also never swung the field with a return for a touchdown.
    Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swish. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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