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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of swat
Mike Allen, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025
When linebacker Josey Jewell tried to shoot the A gap, Trey, with a cross-body swat from his right arm, gave him a taste of the dirt.
—Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
The Court similarly swatted away an argument that SB1 discriminates against trans people, reasoning that both transgender and cisgender minors are equally unable to receive the medicine to treat gender dysphoria.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Noun
Breitbart is emblematic of the reordering of media swat that'll accompany President-elect Trump's inauguration 13 days from now.
—Mike Allen, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025
When linebacker Josey Jewell tried to shoot the A gap, Trey, with a cross-body swat from his right arm, gave him a taste of the dirt.
—Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
The Legislature previously swatted two attempts earlier this year to repeal that law and ban trans girls from sports.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
The Court similarly swatted away an argument that SB1 discriminates against trans people, reasoning that both transgender and cisgender minors are equally unable to receive the medicine to treat gender dysphoria.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for swat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swat
Noun
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So this isn’t a slap at the spending aspect of CUT.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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So the defense went out of its way to present witnesses who could corroborate Ventura Fine’s striking allegations of abuse. Of the slaps, punches and most of all the kicks delivered to the bodies of young women.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Standing all of 4-foot-5 and weighing 63 pounds, Indie-Reign routinely smacks the ball about 170 yards off the tee.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 July 2025
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In 1648, a group of English Puritans set sail from Bermuda to avoid religious persecution only to smack into Devil’s Backbone reef.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Above her, the sweeping halo scoreboard glowed, flashing beneath the thump of blasting pop anthems.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
-
On the footage, the sound is a muffled thump, and neither Rush nor Foss seemed alarmed.—
Jenny Porter Tilley,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Jewish advocacy groups slammed President Donald Trump for using an anti-Semitic descriptor on Thursday during his Iowa speech celebrating the passage of his spending bill.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 July 2025
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Beshear slammed Republicans in support of the bill, accusing them of abandoning constituents who depend on the programs.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
4 July 2025
Noun
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Pang’s departure is a blow to Apple’s AI ambitions and comes amid internal scrutiny of its AI strategy, which has so far failed to match the capabilities fielded by rival tech companies, leaving Apple dependent on third-party AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
8 July 2025
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The news was not only a blow to Lilly but also a surprise to millions using Zepbound on Caremark plans, who are now questioning how to move forward.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Less than a month later, Monson knocked nearly 10 seconds off the American record at 10,000 meters, running 30:03.82 at The Ten, a Sound Running distance carnival in San Juan Capistrano.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
13 July 2025
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On Saturday, the New York Yankees slugger knocked a ball over the outfield wall to reach the milestone.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
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The other shoe dropped with an unsettling thud recently when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt openly gay-bashed in defense of her controversial boss.—
Louis Balsamo,
Baltimore Sun,
25 June 2025
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Her feet dangle, then land with a thud on the delicate rug hugging the side of her bed.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2025
Verb
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While hitting 350 homers is a feat in itself, Judge reached the mark more quickly than former slugger Mark McGwire.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
13 July 2025
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The Padres took a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a one-out single, moved to third on a single by Luis Arraez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Machado.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swat. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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