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
Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 Dec. 2024
Moments after Betts’ three-run swat, Jackson Merrill prevented further damage in highlight fashion.
—Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 13 Apr. 2024
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
The district experienced swatting (false shooting threats) at Abraham Lincoln High School in 2022, gun threats from students at Willow Glen High School in 2023 and an intruder recording students in the girls’ locker room at Bret Harte Middle School last October.
—Antara Gangwal, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Noun
On Wednesday, Brunson was victim to two highlight swats: one with Wemby feet away but using his wingspan to swat the opening trey in the first half and another on a floater attempt that was initially deemed goaltending.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 Dec. 2024
Moments after Betts’ three-run swat, Jackson Merrill prevented further damage in highlight fashion.
—Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 13 Apr. 2024
Verb
Metra officials swatted down this suggestion, noting that a separate 2022 request to that office was referred back to Metra.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
The district experienced swatting (false shooting threats) at Abraham Lincoln High School in 2022, gun threats from students at Willow Glen High School in 2023 and an intruder recording students in the girls’ locker room at Bret Harte Middle School last October.
—Antara Gangwal, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swat
Noun
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He should have been gone after the Poole punch, or if not that, the Gobert chokehold, the Nurkic slap, or any and all of the above.—
Jon Krawczynski,
The Athletic,
8 Mar. 2025
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Scott delivered a harsh open-handed slap to Rhodes’ ear while The Rock joined in to whip the champ with his belt.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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These Cavs maybe aren’t popping champagne for smacking around the New York Knicks, or the Magic, or most of their opponents.—
Joe Vardon,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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The only person who could get away with smacking a cigarette out of Dominek's hand was Clara, David said.—
Jackie Charniga,
USA TODAY,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But there’s thump, there’s just an understanding of situations, ability to use the whole field.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
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Alonso slots back into the Mets lineup and fits perfectly behind new teammate Juan Soto, providing exactly the kind of right-handed thump the Mets were lacking.—
Tim Britton,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But as the aircraft was climbing back into the air, the left wing of the twin-jet slammed into the runway.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2025
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According to this story, when the solar system was just getting started, a Mars-size protoplanet named Theia slammed into the proto-Earth.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The film stars the gifted André Holland as a theater performer who becomes an amnesiac after suffering a violent blow to the head.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Mar. 2025
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But some business owners and managers told the Miami Herald Fraga’s proposal, set to be considered by the Doral City Council on Wednesday, could deal a crushing blow to their establishments.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Not long after Muhammad claimed the Titan FC welterweight crown, the UFC came knocking.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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Some teams can knock themselves off the bubble with bad performances.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Hill: What started as a pledge to deliver on transparency has sparked an uproar in MAGA World after a promise to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein landed with a thud — and little new information.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
5 Mar. 2025
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Pace's comments may land with a thud on the desk of Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), who chairs the House Science Committee, and may not have expected this tone toward the SLS when Pace was invited to the hearing.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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McIlroy only hit four fairways and averaged 294.10 yards off the tee.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
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The Kolstad-scripted Nobody 2 is hitting theaters via Universal on August 15 and the John Wick spinoff Ballerina starring Ana de Armas comes out June 6 – both are based on the scribe’s characters.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swat. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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