1
as in to flood
to cover with a flood
the boat was swamped by the huge wave has been swamped with paperwork since she returned from vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
parents feeling swamped by work and family obligations
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in pickle
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
with her credit cards maxed out, and the making of minimum payments a challenge, debt seemed to be an ever-deepening swamp
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 swamp
Star-Telegram Staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2026
Bigger waves can reach further inland, swamping more homes and businesses.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Much of that wildlife is concentrated within Corcovado National Park, 163-plus-square-miles of tropical forest, mangrove swamps, and beaches.
—Laura Kiniry, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swamp
Verb
Nonetheless, many North Texans won’t have to run out to the store during the winter storm; grocers have been swamped with people this week who have cleared out the meat, eggs, bread and other storm staples.
—Star-Telegram Staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2026
Bigger waves can reach further inland, swamping more homes and businesses.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
Miller has always taken the American people for brainless, heartless chumps lost in a swamp of nostalgia who’ll believe whatever Trumpworld tells them to.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Much of that wildlife is concentrated within Corcovado National Park, 163-plus-square-miles of tropical forest, mangrove swamps, and beaches.
—Laura Kiniry, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swamp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swamp
Verb
-
Khanna said his office had been flooded with calls and emails as the mixed messaging left many local residents fearful.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Thousands of people and cars will undoubtedly flood the streets, but the self-driving car company has projected confidence.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Many providers are overwhelmed by paperwork, Faustman said, and the burden is especially heavy in rural settings where clinics may not have large administrative teams.—
Windsor Johnston,
NPR,
14 Feb. 2026
-
This year, however, politics threatens to overwhelm the festival itself.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An industrial landscape gives way to vast marshes spliced by curving waterways.—
Kara Newman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Top 5 Can’t Miss Book a room at The Sunset Inn, where each morning begins with a delightful breakfast overlooking the marsh.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The bun was buttery and slightly sweet, the pickles and mustard lended a bit of tang to the unctuous beef patties smothered in melty American cheese, and the sweet-but-slightly-spicy Sassy Sauce brought it all together without overpowering any other flavors.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Watts-That Soul Food Southern fried pork chops and catfish share a menu with wings, Kool-Aid pickles and more at this soul food truck.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Speaking to journalists in Riyadh ahead of Prince William’s visit to Saudi Arabia later Monday, the spokesperson shared for the first time the couple’s view of the crisis that has engulfed the palace and UK parliament in recent weeks.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
When first responders arrived, the home was fully engulfed.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tian Feng, former dean of SenseTime’s Intelligence Industry Research Institute, revealed that the free provision of T800 robots will help smaller companies overcome research and development barriers.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The first obstacle to overcome is to develop a computer chip that works in the extreme conditions of space, which includes exposure to much higher levels of radiation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As sweeping changes to the federal Clean Water Act in recent years have weakened protections for wetlands, Illinois has become the first state in the nation to officially recognize a conservation tactic known as rewilding.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
During the hours-long public comment period Monday night, many residents in nearby neighborhoods expressed concerns about losing trail access and a park in the wetlands that have grown in the area.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
South Florida’s scandal Cherfilus-McCormick’s current legal predicament is much easier to explain than Mills’ multiple ethical sandspurs.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
But given the team’s predicament, and the sense that the squad needed Premier League-ready personnel, this was not the window to be pursuing youth.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swamp. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
