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
Relevance
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
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 swat
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 7 June 2024
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
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2024
Several schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District were the target of swatting calls Tuesday morning, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed while providing updates about the Abundant Life Christian School shooting.
—Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for swat 
Noun
The two animals collide, the bear swats at the alligator, and the pair rumble.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 7 June 2024
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
Verb
Barnes and other local officials said that multiple swatting threats were called in against local schools, resulting in lockdowns.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2024
Several schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District were the target of swatting calls Tuesday morning, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes confirmed while providing updates about the Abundant Life Christian School shooting.
—Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for swat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swat
Noun
-
The verbal glove slap unleashed a back-and-forth war of words via diss track, which, in retrospect, was never going to go Drake's way – Lamar, after all, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning lyricist.Rebecca Messina, The Week UK, theweek, 30 Dec. 2024
-
In one breath, people acknowledged the social faux pas of the slap while simultaneously defending why resorting to violence in this case was understandable.Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Don't let the small can fool you though, this high will smack you in the face.Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
-
Freeman, who had been struggling through an ankle injury, smacked the first pitch from Nestor Cortes 413 feet in the 10th inning of Game 1 for the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.NBC Los Angeles, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The Vigor has flat seams and enough stretch to move comfortably while bending over or reaching up, while thump loops make for easy layering on frigid days.Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024
-
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
Verb
-
Brainard was additionally charged with intimidation; 18-year-old Kevin Carroll, who allegedly slammed the victim's head into the car door, is accused of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.Christina Coulter, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
-
Cops said Michael Colonna, 35, crossed over the center yellow line and slammed into Dora Salmeron, 53, according to Newsday.Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Likewise, a surprise 25 basis point rate cut by the BOK at its November meeting, enacted before Yoon declared martial law in December, could have cushioned the blow.Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025
-
As such, this will likely be a blow because the country accounted for 50% of global oil demand growth between 2000 and 2023, averaging an annual increase of 518,000 bpd, according to the Energy Institute's 2024 Statistical Review of World Energy.Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Sciarra, the Rose Bowl MVP, knocked on the Buckeyes’ locker room door and wanted to talk with Griffin but was turned away.Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
-
The night ended disastrously for Hill as Pereira knocked him out 3:14 into the first round.Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Washington, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, started the season 8-2 but has fallen back to earth with a thud.Christiaan Defranco, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
-
Underdog stories typically end with a thud in the CFP, and SMU and Indiana join a list that includes Cincinnati, TCU and others.Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The film is seemingly set in 2001, as someone references watching the news that morning and seeing a plane hitting a skyscraper in New York.Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Jan. 2025
-
But before this could happen, Congress hit another 20-year pause button and extended their copyright term to 95 years.Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 1 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near swat
Cite this Entry
“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swat. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share