as in slap
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the impatient toddler got a swat on his wrist for stepping into the street by himself
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to smack
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
didn't sleep a wink all night because she was too busy swatting mosquitoes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of swat
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2024
The two animals collide, the bear swats at the alligator, and the pair rumble.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 7 June 2024
Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024
Now, that is pretty funny for a piece that was supposed to be a curtain-raiser, and Lynch swatted away my attempts to find out, well, anything at all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for swat 
Noun
The anti-gay laws aim to swat gay people down and send them back to the closet.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2024
The two animals collide, the bear swats at the alligator, and the pair rumble.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 7 June 2024
Verb
High-profile politicians and members of Congress have been swatted in recent months, including Wisconsin's U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore.
—Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024
Now, that is pretty funny for a piece that was supposed to be a curtain-raiser, and Lynch swatted away my attempts to find out, well, anything at all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for swat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swat
Noun
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The sun strikes the surface like a slap of light, as bright as a star’s flash.—
Sallie Tisdale,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Dec. 2024
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The fist pumps and slaps of the left thigh between points have fresh vigour.—
Matthew Futterman,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Barkley smacked them for 296 yards and four TDs in the regular season.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
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During that period, Ichiro smacked 2,533 of his 3,089 Major League hits, ranking him 25th on MLB’s all-time hits list.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Helman has high-end speed and can play anywhere defensively, along with some right-handed thump.—
Aaron Gleeman,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
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Not a lot, but for music that subwoofer does add some thump.—
Brad Moon,
Forbes,
30 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Fans popped off in the comments section, showing their support for the singer and slammed Stern's interview style.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
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Several injured the same night after vehicle slammed into crowd The student's fatal injuries took place the same evening a woman slammed a car into a crowd also celebrating the Eagle's victory in Philadelphia, police confirmed to USA TODAY this week.—
Maria Francis,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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An Idaho Supreme Court ruling against the construction of a new location for Boise’s Interfaith Sanctuary came as a blow, said Executive Director Jodi Peterson-Stigers.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Feb. 2025
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The terminations would be a major blow to the historic independence of the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency and would reflect Trump’s determination to bend the law enforcement and intelligence community to his will.—
Gqlshare,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But Keys was able to knock the tennis titan off balance with a stunning opening match, eventually winning the whole tournament in the final set, which was tied till the very end.—
Mansee Khurana,
NPR,
25 Jan. 2025
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And in this case, Homeland Security is knocking on states’ doors.—
Ana Ceballos,
Miami Herald,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Questions about why Trump’s Day One promises haven’t been fulfilled landed with a thud because voters don’t expect everything to happen overnight.—
Max Thornberry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
2 Feb. 2025
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Some days, the loud thud of missiles intercepted above the city sends people rushing for shelter, and the city’s suburbs are often attacked by drones, which can fall on buildings when shot down.—
Lili Rutai,
The Dial,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Acuña flashed during a late-season call-up, hitting .308 with three home runs in 39 at-bats.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
25 Jan. 2025
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Last week, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes — tackled at the ankles and about to hit the turf — threw a touchdown pass to Kelce, the Chief’s German Instagram page, chiefsdeutschland, responded with a photo and all-capital letters caption: DIESER TD HAT UNS SPRACHLOS GEMACHT.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near swat
Cite this Entry
“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swat. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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