1
: a wetland often partially or intermittently covered with water
especially
: one dominated by woody vegetation
2
: a tract of swamp
3
: a difficult or troublesome situation or subject
swamp
adjective
swamped; swamping; swamps
1
2
: to open by removing underbrush and debris
: to become submerged
Synonyms
Examples of swamp in a Sentence
Noun
Alligators live in the lowland swamps.
be careful in the swamp, because alligators sometimes lurk there
Verb
The sea level rose and swamped the coastal villages.
The boat sank after it was swamped by waves.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2025
Start with the live animal exhibits and displays in the Nature Center, and then venture outdoors along gravel paths and boardwalks through a hardwood forest and a cypress-tupelo swamp.
—Kristy Christiansen, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2025
Jawad Rizkallah, NPR, 10 Feb. 2025
With Nikola Jokic scoring 38 points and a hustling Christian Braun adding 23, the Nuggets seemed capable of swamping New Orleans anytime Monday night.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for swamp 
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Noun
Underneath, a swamp of flavors: pork debris (the meat that falls off the roast and settles at the bottom of the pan; seems to be a Louisiana thing), cheesy grits, caramelized onions, and garlic.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2025
Start with the live animal exhibits and displays in the Nature Center, and then venture outdoors along gravel paths and boardwalks through a hardwood forest and a cypress-tupelo swamp.
—Kristy Christiansen, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
Israel opposes return of refugees Israel has always rejected a mass return of Palestinian refugees, saying the Jewish state would be swamped demographically.
—Jawad Rizkallah, NPR, 10 Feb. 2025
With Nikola Jokic scoring 38 points and a hustling Christian Braun adding 23, the Nuggets seemed capable of swamping New Orleans anytime Monday night.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for swamp
Dictionary Entries Near swamp
Cite this Entry
“Swamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swamp. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swamp
1 of 2 noun
ˈswämp 
ˈswȯmp
: wet spongy land often partly covered with water
swamp
2 of 2 verb1
: to fill or become filled with or as if with water
2
: overwhelm sense 2
was swamped with work
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