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
My petite frame had more than enough space to swish from side to side and breathe through the cold, while relaxing my neck on the comfort ring. Emily Peck, Wired News, 20 Aug. 2025 This reminded me once seeing an elephant with a bunch of flies on its backside getting swished away by its tail. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 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 incident took place in the third quarter after Kelce continued to block after the whistle was blown.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • This assertion, according to a subsequent whistle-blower complaint, was false.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Tonal satin trim and flap-welt pockets at the hips complete the elegant look.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
  • But dirt, lint, or weather damage often keeps the flap stuck open just a sliver.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Nineteen hours after departure the train took its final breath, hissed and braked into the historic port of Narvik.
    The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Initially Mila can be seen hissing at Fifi, just for being near her.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Without appearing to look, Rogers flicked the ball round the corner, straight into the path of Madueke running in behind, cutting inwards from the right.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Aniston’s new haircut incorporates more length and less volume, features a sleek root base, and focuses on the feathery, flicked ends of the original cut.
    Grace McCarty, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • On top of that, the glossy colors and neutral prints look stylish and match with everything.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • After decades of simple stemware and minimalist tumblers, wild, eye-catching vessels now adorn stylish tables.
    New York Times, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Place the flour one shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and milk in another, and place the breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Inside, 88 unique rooms with vintage furnishings and original art whisk guests back in time—with the addition of modern comforts like plush mattresses and crisp linens, of course.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That kind of dexterity is apparent in the footwork, one of those features that can swing matches when the going gets tough.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • After the Blue Jays swung a trade to bring in Shane Bieber at this season's deadline, Edward Eng of FanSided's Jays Journal predicted the team would turn to him as a long-term replacement while letting Max Scherzer walk this winter.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Many have compared the silhouette to the once-fashionable Balenciaga Triple-S, another behemoth of a sneaker.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Created by Buffy alum and Cabin in the Woods director Drew Goddard, ABC's crime drama stars Kaitlin Olson as an eccentric (and fashionable) janitor with a genius-level IQ who stumbles into a consulting role with the Los Angeles Police Department.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swish. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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