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
Common sense says next summer is the appropriate time to pounce on a trade after one more swing with the current starting lineup. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 June 2025 But there were specific pitches and certain swings that bothered him. —Matt Gelb, New York Times, 6 June 2025
Verb
On each occasion, the narrative of the war swung back in Ukraine’s favor. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 2 June 2025 Full strawberry moon June 19: Moon nears Saturn June 20: Summer Solstice June 22: Crescent moon swings by Venus June 26-27: Bootid meteor shower peaks June 29: Moon covers Mars Celestial meetups abound in the night sky this month, from eye-popping planet pairings to a crossing of the moon and Mars. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 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
  • In an Instagram carousel shared on Wednesday, June 4, Popeyes posted a collection of posts from around social media admiring their marketing and swift movements.
    — Moná Thomas, People.com, 5 June 2025
  • Symptoms such as chest pain or pressure that worsen by movement are also usually present.7 A pneumothorax occurs when gas accumulates within the space surrounding a lung.
    — Laura Campedelli, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Definition of movement
Noun
  • If a field shifts or a new variation appears, the system breaks—or worse, misinterprets the data.
    — Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • Real estate and homebuilding industries have historically resisted broad disclosure mandates, but recent flooding events have prompted a shift toward supporting more transparency.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
Definition of shift
Verb
  • An example might be a SaaS company adding consulting or training services that enhance the core software experience without deviating too far from its expertise.
    — Will Fan, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • The spending proposal lawmakers approved, negotiated among the Democratic House and Senate leaders and the governor’s office, deviates from Pritzker’s original plan in certain areas, including funding for elementary and secondary education.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • Today, in a world still healing from a global pandemic and grappling with economic, political and climate uncertainty, the temptation to turn inward is strong.
    — Kendra MacDonald, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Some might find the introduction of a major conflict — when a different date turns nightmarish for Sophie, causing Lucy to question her certainties about what makes a good match and berate herself for failing to spot red flags — to be a heavy-handed nudge toward a resolution.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Definition of turn
Verb
  • This may surprise the more than 1 million Californians who received $21.65 apiece from the state in mid-May after a settlement reached by state Attorney General Rob Bonta with three gasoline trading firms that allegedly manipulated gas prices in 2016 during another refinery outage.
    — Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
  • Deepfakes are manipulated images, audio recordings, or videos of real people that have been altered with artificial intelligence to misrepresent someone as saying or doing something that the person did not actually say or do.
    — Alain Sherter, CBS News, 6 June 2025
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • For more formal occasions, she’s also rotated in white sneakers worn with tailored linen separates — a recurring combination that blends practicality with polish.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 June 2025
  • In addition to the two enormous submarine sets, there had never been a need to build a gimbal big and strong enough to support, rotate, and move a set of this size, nor a water tank large enough to house the gimbal and set.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 6 June 2025
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • Plants have evolved to hang away from the plant to give easier access to incoming bats.
    — The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
  • The game-tying shot, Judge’s 26th homer of the year, cleared the National Car Rental sign that hangs above The Green Monster and easily escaped the confines of Fenway Park.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
Definition of hang
Verb
  • And to be sure, Musk’s money affords him a boundless budget to buy just about anything and sue just about anyone, in perpetuity.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
  • Private attorney involvement is vital to our mission of providing judicial access and legal representation to those who could not otherwise afford it.
    — Jeffrey D. Harvey, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 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 18 Jun. 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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