swish 1 of 3

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
Swish swish sounds like it is written by 8 yr old kid or Donald Trump. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 May 2017 In a hurricane, those waves can come in quick, short bursts as powerful thunderstorms around the storm’s eye wall swish air up and down like a plunger in a toilet bowl. Jenny Staletovich, miamiherald, 17 May 2017
Verb
Curry couldn’t connect on the long feed from Durant but finished with 16 points while attempting more shots than anyone else, including one from the halfcourt line that swished through the net. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025 The attention to detail has been second to none, from the Enterprise-D bridge to the classic 'swish' doors. Simon Thompson, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Co-produced by Spain’s RTVE and TV3 with Sweden’s SVT, Germany’s NDR and Finland’s YLE, the eight-part comedy is set in a swish upper middle-class community in the placid hills outside Barcelona. Liza Foreman, Variety, 18 Oct. 2023 The swish dopp kits, which are filled with the latest skincare products and fragrances, will be provided exclusively to first- and business-class passengers on select routes and long-haul flights. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2023 See All Example Sentences for swish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swish
Noun
  • Indeed, on Thursday in Basel, a small group of protesters blew whistles and waved flags to disrupt one of Raphael’s public rehearsals.
    Alex Marshall, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • The absurdity of it all was met with laughter, light applause and exactly one whistle.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Cash — who has made several tracks with Charli XCX — said the flap had turned him into a star in Italy.
    Alex Marshall, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • The screws securing the upper flap are loose, and one is missing.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • Some of the injured were being taken to hospital in ambulances, and in another video, a loud hissing sound can be heard before a blast hits a few feet away from a crowd of bicyclists.
    Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC news, 6 May 2025
  • The door is heard to open with a whoosh and a hissing sound, but neither the door nor the plane exterior are shown in the aftermath.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • An audience of about 75—who all seemed to be locals, except for me and a Dutch couple—roared and cheered as a gifted dancer named David Nieto shook the stage in a whir of heel stomps, wrist flicks, and head snaps.
    Christopher Bagley, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
  • And if your mom loves action flicks and/or Keanu Reeves by chance?
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • With deals like $100 off of a stylish firepit table from our own BHG x Walmart line, nearly 60% for an outdoor griddle, and 40% off patio dining sets, Walmart’s patio furniture deals equal huge savings just ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
    Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
  • Function is priority, but practical can be stylish.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • The mixer also comes with a whisk for whipping cream or sauces.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Beyond artists like Catlett and Biggers – who have earned renown as influential masters, but not the art market compensation of their white peers – The Bronx Museum shines a spotlight on emerging artists whose work challenges cultural and social norms and whisks viewers out of their comfort zones.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In between the European trips, Biden had swung back to the United States to be at home in Wilmington, Delaware, for the verdict of his son Hunter Biden's guns case trial.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Happ’s oblique bothered him the most when attempting to swing.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Juliet Holy Pointed-Toe Chunky Block Heels Midi dresses and pointed-toe heels are a match made in heaven, as evidenced by Oprah’s fashionable look.
    Izzy Baskette, People.com, 11 May 2025
  • As the global appeal of Lambrusco has grown, more of Emilia-Romagna’s winemakers have turned their vineyards into fashionable destinations.
    Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swish. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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