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
Tenette drove the lane, Simmons collapsed, Tenette kicked to Haupt on the left wing … swish. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026 Give the bowl a quick swish with some vinegar and a toilet brush, then flush. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Illinois freshman then spun to his left and hopped back behind the 3-point line, swishing his second 3-pointer of the night. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026 With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away. Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Russell let the rest of Taylor-Joy's long hair fall in loose, barely there waves, with most of the curl concentrated just at the ends for movement and swish factor. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Mar. 2026 What's more, the city has a swish new hotel catering to travelers who are here for pleasure more than business. Diana Hubbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swish
Noun
  • Till the final whistle, or James’ final words, leaving Toyota Center on Friday with a controlling advantage en route to a potential second-round showdown with the defending champs, that desperation was evident.
    Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The scrums and after-whistle activity that defined the first period of Game 2 and much of Game 1 simply were not there in Game 3, with the Lightning seemingly content to play between the whistles in an effort to avoid handing the Canadiens power plays in bunches.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Each slim design comes in two fetching contrasting colors (available in nine color combos) and has a secure magnetic closure on the flap to keep eyewear safe.
    Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Brandi is a top zip crossbody with a fold over front flap secured with a magnetic closure.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His line drive hissed past a leaping Steffen for a 3-2 Miami lead.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Like the tongues of a multi-headed snake, the Trail of Tears hissed through Chattanooga, Northern Alabama, Western North Carolina, Middle Tennessee and up through Southern Illinois, down through Missouri, across Arkansas before stopping in what is now Eastern Oklahoma.
    Keith Sharon, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Down 2-1 in the 11th minute of stoppage time, Pinnock’s pass was flicked on by Sowunmi at the near-post and nodded down by striker Marcus Dinanga for 18-year-old George Evans to score.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The game was heading for a penalty shootout when Tomás produced a moment of individual skill by twisting in the air between two defenders as a pass came in from Badredine Bouanani and using his heel to flick the ball past Freiburg's otherwise outstanding goalkeeper Florian Müller.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Shot with cold control in black and white by cinematographer Kyle Deitz, Wiseman’s feature debut is a stylish thriller that launched at regional festivals in 2024; what must have seemed near-future about it then seems almost too present-day in 2026.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Every summer, stylish crowds congregate along France’s southeastern shores, seduced by the glamorous promise of the French Riviera, spending their days sipping overpriced cocktails at the high-end resorts that line its sandy beaches as if plucked straight from a Slim Aarons photo.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • While there, Google said travelers are excited to go zip lining (the top trending activity in Sint Maarten in the past month), and head to Mullet Bay Beach.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Another alleged Tre-4 member, Sincere Pomar, faces kidnapping and robbery charges in a Richmond marijuana dispensary robbery where the victims were held at gunpoint and zip-tied, court records show.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Refrigerated pie crust helps this pie come together with just a few stirs of the whisk.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Add dulce de leche; whisk well.
    Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The game swung on these knife-edge moments, but the actual performance levels were similar from both teams.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • But as the ball swung around the perimeter, opportunities arose for the likes of Dosunmu and McDaniels to crack the paint off the bounce.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swish. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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