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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of swat
Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
But then to do that kind of Tennessee Williams swat?
—Andy Hoglund, Vulture, 6 June 2024
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
Castle kept to the Thunder star’s right, and when SGA rose for what appeared to be a certain basket, Castle timed his leap and swatted the ball just as SGA released it.
—Mike Monroe, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for swat 
Noun
Swatting cases against politicians are on the rise Several public officials were the subject of swat calls over the holidays.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
But then to do that kind of Tennessee Williams swat?
—Andy Hoglund, Vulture, 6 June 2024
Verb
Such incidents have increased in recent years, and multiple officials from both political parties reported being the victims of swatting during last year's holiday season.
Update 11/29/24, 4:34 p.m.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
Castle kept to the Thunder star’s right, and when SGA rose for what appeared to be a certain basket, Castle timed his leap and swatted the ball just as SGA released it.
—Mike Monroe, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for swat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swat
Noun
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Andrews collected the opening jump ball with a firm hand slap that could be heard in the upper reaches of the arena.Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
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In a flash, Vinicius Jr appeared as a mirror image alongside him and, just after, Rodrygo did the same — but not before Antonio Rudiger’s own ritual of giving whoever has scored a (friendly) slap.Mario Cortegana, The Athletic, 15 Aug. 2024
Verb
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Nobody will mind if they get smacked in the head by a selfie stick, or buzzed by a drone.Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 9 Nov. 2024
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With the score sitting at 14-10, Crabb smacked the ball at Banesh who parried it, his touch giving Partain the option to pass it back to his teammate.Aaron Heisen, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The White Sox have a major need for power hitting as Jose Abreu, Eloy Jimenez and Yoan Moncada are gone and Andrew Vaughn appears to have misplaced his thump.Phil Rogers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Ariel remembered telling Maricela to hurry and then feeling a whoosh and hearing a thump behind him.Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Thinking quickly, Bree grabs a cast-iron skillet and slams it into his head, knocking him out cold.Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 6 Dec. 2024
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British mobile giant Vodafone is to axe 11,000 jobs over three years in the latest cull to hit the tech sector, as new boss Margherita Della Valle slammed recent performance.Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But Manchin raced across town from a previous engagement to deliver the fatal blow, 50-49.Axios, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024
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The network has struggled to convince media companies to carry it and suffered a big blow when it was dropped by DirecTV in 2022.Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In a battle, Swanson, 41, knocked Billy Quarantillo out cold.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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The losses continued under Mancini in the autumn of 2023 until a win in a World Cup qualifier against Pakistan started an eight-game unbeaten run that lasted until South Korea knocked them out of the Asia Cup on penalties.Matt Slater, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The music of jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava washes over the dining room as solicitous waiters recite the evening’s specials, their delivery unaffected by the thud of bombs falling on a neighborhood nearby.Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
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The yearling scrambled back up its tree, then let go and fell, landing with a sickening thud.Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As the myriad plot points tangle and hit critical mass, supporting players Sarah Goldberg, Trevor White, Miriam Petche and Jay Duplass deliver gems.Carole Horst, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024
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Mixed precipitation hits Midwest The arctic blast is gone and warmer weather is leading to troublesome mixed precipitation in the Midwest.Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near swat
Cite this Entry
“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swat. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.
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