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
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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.
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Mrtka was actively involved between the whistles and after the whistle, using his size to clear the net and get under opponents’ skin.
Noun
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Yamal’s flicks and tricks in his 45-minute appearance were almost enough to make memories for life, while Oyarzabal should have completed his hat-trick (both players would be substituted at the break).
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The centre-back scored six goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances on loan at Hamburg last season, including towering headers and clever backheel flicks.
Verb
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Gaga hisses to her hair and makeup team after Priestly swans away.
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Carrie’s voice hisses in my ear.
Verb
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The music is loose and spacious, billowing like fabric that flaps at the slightest breeze.
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.
Noun
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Even packed with her belongings, the purse zips smoothly and doesn’t look bulky, which is a win for a mini bag.
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About 400 miles north of Hesperia, the highway zips out of California and into Nevada (around Topaz Lake), heads north for about 88 miles through Carson City and Reno, and then reenters the Golden State around Cold Springs.
Noun
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Look for other accessories such as chopping cups and pitchers that attach to the hand blender, lids and whisks.
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Teddy bears and textbooks, camping gear stacked against her husband’s drum kit, a jumble of whisks and frying pans catching the morning sun.
Verb
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Smarter, Not Larger The conversation around AI often swings between extremes.
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Toward the beginning of the episode, the group sits down to eat at a hole-in-the-wall barbecue spot and the camera swings around the table in a sweeping circular motion, capturing everyone laughing, bonding and sharing a meal.
Noun
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Moreover, if Griffin stepped into public life now, the cynical wags in finance would declare the reason obvious—his hedge fund’s returns have been sagging.
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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.
Cite this Entry
“Swishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swishes. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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