as in smacking
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
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Recent Examples of swatting
Experts advise moving slowly away from the area, avoiding sudden movements or swatting and seeking shelter indoors or in a vehicle if necessary.
—
Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
The officer then runs through the brush, swatting branches aside and calling out to the man.
—Siafa Lewis, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Mhoon locked in on defense, swatting away shots as TKA’s rim protector while coming up with huge rebounds.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
After Hadel pushes Brown back once, Brown is shown swatting at him again.
—Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
Over the course of the last six months, McBrien and the AJC team traveled to the small town of Elberton for an investigation that led them to granite quarries, graves, a swatting raid and a deep dive in explosives.
—Hugo Rojo, AJC.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Then Bryant flew in and stole the moment by swatting it away.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Porter’s 5-year-old son struggled in vain to protect his mother, with Freeman swatting him aside as the child tried to push the killer off her body, according to Bronx Homicide Detective Robert Klein, who took over the investigation into the cold case murder in 2021.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
The homes and businesses of at least 12 Indiana state lawmakers were targeted with bomb threats and swatting in December as the legislature weighed whether to redraw congressional districts.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 15 Jan. 2026
Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
The officer then runs through the brush, swatting branches aside and calling out to the man.
—Siafa Lewis, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Mhoon locked in on defense, swatting away shots as TKA’s rim protector while coming up with huge rebounds.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
After Hadel pushes Brown back once, Brown is shown swatting at him again.
—Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
Over the course of the last six months, McBrien and the AJC team traveled to the small town of Elberton for an investigation that led them to granite quarries, graves, a swatting raid and a deep dive in explosives.
—Hugo Rojo, AJC.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Then Bryant flew in and stole the moment by swatting it away.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Porter’s 5-year-old son struggled in vain to protect his mother, with Freeman swatting him aside as the child tried to push the killer off her body, according to Bronx Homicide Detective Robert Klein, who took over the investigation into the cold case murder in 2021.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
The homes and businesses of at least 12 Indiana state lawmakers were targeted with bomb threats and swatting in December as the legislature weighed whether to redraw congressional districts.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swatting
Verb
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In Los Angeles, Jonathon Redondo-Rosales was charged with assault for smacking an agent with a hat after a car struck him.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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But a leadoff walk in the top of the 9th allowed Eugenio Suárez to knock in what would prove to be the winning run, smacking a double to left center field and scoring pinch runner Javier Sonoja.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Gerhardt Konig hoped Thursday to persuade a Hawaiian jury that hitting his wife repeatedly with a rock was self-defense.—
April 2,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The film also was shown at a number of other festivals before hitting the awards circuit as the Palestinian entry for this year’s Academy Awards.—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Airlines across the region, like Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific are slapping hefty fuel surcharges on flights; Vietnam and the Philippines are even weighing whether to ground planes.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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But every so often there comes a day that is so different—so unusual—so spectacular that its happening can only be chalked up to old-fashioned, knee-slapping good luck.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The wing struck the roof of a home before slamming into an exterior wall of a second home next door.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The pair have been in physical altercations in the past, including Manning's 2012 arrest for allegedly punching, scratching, kicking and choking Hartman – whom media outlets have referred to as Manning's former make-up artist and assistant – and slamming her head against the floor and wall.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Things got worse for the Wild a few shifts later when Spurgeon foiled a Florida rush to the Minnesota net, but went down at full speed and slid hard into the goalpost, knocking the net off the moorings.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
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The level 3 out of 5, or the area with numerous severe thunderstorms, is literally knocking on the door.—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The man responded by punching the child's father in the nose, court documents said.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Michigan made a statement on Sunday, punching its ticket to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The oil shortage has also affected public services and food transportation, prompting rare protests in some cities, with citizens banging pots and pans and lighting bonfires in the darkness.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
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Many of us at City Hall also have been banging our heads against the wall about it, but the situation is more grim than most Chicagoans realize.—
Bill Conway,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Matt is carrying a stick and whacking flowers.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Tien and Chang plan to be on the ground in Houston and out whacking balls come Monday.—
Dale Robertson,
Houston Chronicle,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swatting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swatting. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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