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
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
Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
From swamp to salinity In Western Australia, sediment cores from the beds of Lake Aerodrome, Gastropod Lake and Prado Lake reveal how long-term drying can change the ecology of a region.
—Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Families, educators and students are swamped with complexity.
—Nina Greenwood, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for swamp
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Noun
In Louisiana, alligators live mostly along the state’s coastal marshes but also can be found in its canals, bayous, rivers and swamps.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
From swamp to salinity In Western Australia, sediment cores from the beds of Lake Aerodrome, Gastropod Lake and Prado Lake reveal how long-term drying can change the ecology of a region.
—Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
Verb
Marty Quinn, whose 13th Ward is covered by CPD’s Chicago Lawn District, said several arterial streets are akin to expressways, and the area’s police officers are regularly swamped with other calls for service and unable to discourage aggressive and reckless drivers.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Families, educators and students are swamped with complexity.
—Nina Greenwood, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for swamp
Cite this Entry
“Swamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swamp. Accessed 5 Jun. 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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