1
2
as in flaps
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in hisses
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flicks
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the horse's tail swishes after every jump
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swishes
ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Now there’s a new celebrity in Greenfield, a purveyor of swishes instead of verses.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 2 Apr. 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
Drain out the dirty water, then refill with clean, lukewarm water and give the scarf a few more swishes.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
Banchero had the game-sealing shot, too — a 3-pointer that hit the rim, bounced a couple stories into the air, then dropped through the net with the softest of swishes with about 40 seconds left.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Now there’s a new celebrity in Greenfield, a purveyor of swishes instead of verses.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 2 Apr. 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
Drain out the dirty water, then refill with clean, lukewarm water and give the scarf a few more swishes.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swishes
Noun
-
While other animals such as rats and mice are also known to have laryngeal whistles, the study says that horses are believed to be the only animals known to combine the whistle with vocal fold vibrations to create a single, dual sound call.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Mrtka was actively involved between the whistles and after the whistle, using his size to clear the net and get under opponents’ skin.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gaga hisses to her hair and makeup team after Priestly swans away.—
Nigel Smith,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
Carrie’s voice hisses in my ear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The quick-drying polyester fabric dries fast and easily flicks away sand and dirt, keeping you (and your food) safe from the elements.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 May 2026
-
Monroe flicks the mic and begins.—
Mic Anderson Britannica Editors May 18,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The video may have been aimed at younger men, but Charlotte’s unofficial uniform of polos, khakis and quarter-zips isn’t exactly exclusive to millennials and Gen Z.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
-
The couple zips into the Los Angeles International Airport in style in an undated photo.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
-
View gallery - 7 images A wooden dragon sculpture that gently flaps its wings has become a crowd-funding hit, but after seeing the traditional handcrafted work that's been put into every single model, making each one unique, the value of such a piece becomes strikingly clear.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Look for other accessories such as chopping cups and pitchers that attach to the hand blender, lids and whisks.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Teddy bears and textbooks, camping gear stacked against her husband’s drum kit, a jumble of whisks and frying pans catching the morning sun.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many critics, political pundits, and wags asked, somewhat rhetorically, whether anyone in the administration recalls how handing the responsibility of nuclear weaponry over to machines turned out in the Terminator movies.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
-
One hums with high-speed drills and anxiety; the other echoes with joyful barks and tail wags.—
Henry I. Miller,
STAT,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of those handle halves folding around close to 180 degrees to reveal a central set of pliers like many other Leathermans do, one of the Crunch's handles pulls out and swings downward via an internal arm to reveal the pliers, which in turn swing into position.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 June 2026
-
The thought swings through her, like a burning stick through night air.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swishes. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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