swing 1 of 2

noun

Definition of swingnext
1
as in licence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in movement

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3
as in shift

Synonyms & Similar Words

swing

2 of 2

verb

ˈswiŋ How to pronounce swing (audio)
1
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction thinking that we were being followed, we abruptly swung to the left at the next intersection swing right at James St.

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2
as in to turn
to change the course or direction of (something) at the sound of gunfire, the cavalry officer swung his horse around and galloped rapidly back to the fort

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3
as in to manipulate
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently a man who's able to swing two full-time jobs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to rotate
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis he swung the bat as hard as he could but he missed the ball don't let the wind swing that gate shut

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5
as in to hang
to place on an elevated point without support from below beach towels swung up to dry on the lifeguard's high chair

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6
as in to afford
to have enough money for I don't think that we can swing that hefty a mortgage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of swing are fluctuate, oscillate, sway, undulate, vibrate, and waver. While all these words mean "to move from one direction to its opposite," swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.

the door suddenly swung open

When might fluctuate be a better fit than swing?

Although the words fluctuate and swing have much in common, fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.

fluctuating interest rates

When is it sensible to use oscillate instead of swing?

The words oscillate and swing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.

an oscillating fan

When could sway be used to replace swing?

While in some cases nearly identical to swing, sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.

trees swaying in the breeze

When can undulate be used instead of swing?

In some situations, the words undulate and swing are roughly equivalent. However, undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.

an undulating sea of grass

Where would vibrate be a reasonable alternative to swing?

The meanings of vibrate and swing largely overlap; however, vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.

the vibrating strings of a piano

In what contexts can waver take the place of swing?

While the synonyms waver and swing are close in meaning, waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.

the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

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 swing
Noun
In theaters July 25 26 of 31 Happy Gilmore 2 Cinema’s grumpiest golfer is back in the swing of things — with Bad Bunny costarring as his caddie. —Jack Smart, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025 If the medical checks out for Andy Reid, this is worth the swing. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
The show swings, with melodramatic ease, between success and failure. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025 But eight years later, the big front door at 14 W. 10th Street swung open again. —Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swing
  1. movement
  2. shift
  3. deviate
  4. turn
  5. manipulate
  6. rotate
  7. hang
  8. afford
Noun
  • For instance, people often mistake a dog’s wagging tail as a sign of happiness, but the American Kennel Club suggests that the wagging movement only indicates that the dog is emotionally aroused.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Kasky’s classmate, David Hogg, now vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, has also been an outspoken gun control advocate since surviving Parkland, and was among the more visible faces in the March for Our Lives movement.
    — David Goodhue, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of movement
Noun
  • The shift represents a major change in how many investors have approached the defense industry in Europe.
    — Lara Jakes, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • That drop has stabilized in recent years, according to the National Catholic Educational Association, as the pandemic brought broader shifts in enrollment away from traditional public schooling (though most kids still attend public schools).
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of shift
Verb
  • The main function of the yeast deviated from producing good beer to simply being able to survive for an extraordinarily long period of time without its primary food source: barley sugar.
    — Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Even Porziņģis missing time throughout the playoffs didn’t force the Celtics to deviate much from their plan.
    — Jay King, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • But in his second term, Trump's aggressive trade policies and confrontational stance toward America's allies are threatening to turn that populist wave into a dangerous undertow.
    — Scott Neuman, NPR, 23 Apr. 2025
  • It is filled with very cautious language (surely taken right from police press releases), which might be intentional to not feed into what is now turning into intense scrutiny over every suspicious death in New England.
    — Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of turn
Verb
  • It could be manipulated by the therapist or simply placed in the correct position by the individual.
    — Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
  • This is not a new accusation and in the past Fauci and the paper authors disagreed with the accusations that the paper was manipulated or had any specific goal.
    — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • Stop in for handcrafted cocktails, beer, and wine in the company of live music and rotating art installations.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Wilcke: While the quarterbacks rotated early and often, Loftis and Harrell looked to be in a 1A-1B role, while Wilcke worked with the second team.
    — Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • This hanging egg chair adds both comfort and style to your space and comes in multiple cushion colors, including green, blue, gray, beige, and cream.
    — Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The corpses started appearing in the early 2000s, hanging from overpasses with threats scrawled on their shirts.
    — Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of hang
Verb
  • Many cancer patients in these regions cannot afford or physically reach hospitals for frequent intravenous treatments.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Trump's implementation of the act was originally upheld by the Supreme Court, but the justices also ruled that immigrants must first be afforded the right to legally challenge any deportation efforts.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of afford

Browse Nearby Words

swineherds
swing
swinging
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Cite this Entry

“Swing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swing. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on swing

Nglish: Translation of swing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about swing

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