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
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Recent Examples of swat
Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2025
Reigning Oakland Athletic League MVP Grayson had a team-high 14 points to go with four swats, each tallied as a high-flying menace who erased shots from the weakside as the Bulldogs won their fifth consecutive game against Oakland.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Before anyone at Coors had time to think, Harper swatted a Palmquist cutter into the hedges beyond centerfield.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Noun
The footage allegedly showed Howard getting out of his car, opening a back door and bending over inside to swat at something.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2025
Reigning Oakland Athletic League MVP Grayson had a team-high 14 points to go with four swats, each tallied as a high-flying menace who erased shots from the weakside as the Bulldogs won their fifth consecutive game against Oakland.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
The sport can be played with single players or double teams and uses a low net and lined boundary courts with paddles swatting an aerated, light, plastic, bright yellow, green or orange ball, like a Wiffle ball.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Before anyone at Coors had time to think, Harper swatted a Palmquist cutter into the hedges beyond centerfield.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swat
Noun
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Some trepidation, some laughs, a slap, some vulnerability, a funeral, a revealing email, a lawsuit, an enormously successful comedy special, a roast, and so much more — as the three detail in the video recap, above.—
Gerrad Hall,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Not finishing the story is a real slap in the face to all the loyal fans who did stick around.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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With two outs and a runner on in the fourth, Tyler Fitzgerald smacked a fastball from Cabrera to left field.—
Steve Gorten,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2025
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Crawford got ahold of an Alcala fastball, sending it off the scoreboard ribbon in right field and erasing a lead that the Twins had been protecting since the second inning when Wallner, in his first major league at-bat since April 15, smacked a two-run home run.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2025
Noun
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The Cardinals have enough right-handed thump (especially with Herrera) to utilize Burleson at his strength.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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Literal flames surrounded the glow, both repelling and drawing you in more, followed by two loud, disorienting thumps.—
Christopher Rosa,
Glamour,
16 May 2025
Verb
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But, in the end, Berg’s life became proof of a darker truth, one that is newly relevant in the Trump era: doors that swing open can also slam shut.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
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President Donald Trump said his close relationship with Elon Musk might be over after the world's richest man and former top White House adviser spent the past few days slamming the president's signature tax and policy bill.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Khan feared that delaying his departure beyond the deadline might have resulted in his wife and children being hauled off to a police station along with him, which would have been a blow to his family’s dignity.—
Elena Becatoros,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
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Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu via Getty Images The Israel Defense Forces also confirmed that Bagheri and Salami had been killed, in what is likely to be a big blow to Iran’s security forces.—
Courtney Kube,
NBC news,
13 June 2025
Verb
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One of the windows got shattered and he was knocked unconscious.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
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Tesla knocked thousands of dollars off its best-selling Model 3 and Model Y. Ford followed suit by cutting prices on its Mach-e.—
Ashley Nunes,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Unlike other parts of the country where the intensity of war waxes and wanes, eastern Ukraine has known no respite from the thud of artillery, the roar of missiles, and the hum of drones.—
Dominique Soguel,
Christian Science Monitor,
14 May 2025
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The Orioles organization has collapsed with a deadening thud.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 June 2025
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After the Dodgers opted to intentionally walk Juan Soto to put runners on first and second with one out in the eighth inning, Alonso hit a single.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swat. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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