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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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
Hilmon gave a contest from a distance, but Thornton swished a corner 3-pointer to open her night. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 The Western Ghats mountains tumble down the west coast of India like a breaking wave, swishing through six states and across nearly 1,000 miles. — Susan D'arcy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2026
Adjective
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 The Vale can be combined with a stay at Silverstone’s swish Escapade hotel or in a luxury yurt on the inner track. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 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
  • Each time assistant coach Pablo de la Torre, the fitness specialist, blew his whistle, the players had to sprint to the far end of the pitch and back again before the rondos resumed.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • One of them, a shorter, bearded man with a nose reddened and swollen from years of abusing liquor, gave a low whistle.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of whistle
Noun
  • Chanel walked several burgundy options down the runway, from their flap bag to a chic hobo bag.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 31 July 2026
  • And of course, can any WNBA fit be completled with a Coach leather flap bag?
    — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of flap
Verb
  • Wynn said the alligator started to get agitated and even opened its mouth and hissed at her.
    — Steven Yablonski, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • The complete assembly weighs just enough for the Madagascar hissing cockroach, a species favored for cyborg research because of its large size, robustness, and wingless body, to carry without significantly impairing its movement.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
Definition of hiss
Verb
  • Within a few minutes, Hutchinson has his mobile out, happily flicking through the screensavers.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Timo Baumgartl chipped a cross to left side, where Tomas Totland flicked a header back to Ostrak for a bending shot from the corner of the penalty area that ricocheted off the back post to open the scoring.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Definition of flick
Adjective
  • Consumer electronics giant Xiaomi is rolling out stylish sedans and SUVs outfitted with dizzying in-cabin infotainment tech.
    — Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Every seat is upholstered in stylish beige and cream-colored textiles and offers seven inches of recline, 40 inches of pitch, and 19 inches of width.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of stylish
Noun
  • Wood was asked about a golf outing where a friend’s father showed up in a traditional dress code, only to find the rest of the group in quarter-zips and in vests from a brand that shall go unnamed but is synonymous with New York’s Wall Street.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Throughout the route, rest stops featured live music, fitness classes, art installations and activities for families, including a zip-line, which CBS News New York's Elijah Westbrook tried out himself.
    — Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • Beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and vanilla in a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes.
    — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 30 July 2026
  • Forget any other shape or material whisk that boasts its superior capabilities, because the wire whisk does it all.
    — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
Definition of whisk
Verb
  • If the answer swings on how the question was phrased, the model is not measuring anything about the match.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Out in the clean air, this pointer swung away from the compass to aim at the plume’s edge, several seconds before the fly physically turned to head back.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of swing

Browse Nearby Words

swirly
swish
swished
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Cite this Entry

“Swish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swish. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on swish

Nglish: Translation of swish for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about swish

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