How to Use swish in a Sentence

swish

1 of 3 verb
  • The horse's tail swished back and forth.
  • The horse swished its tail back and forth.
  • He watched as the windshield wipers swished back and forth.
  • The ball swished through the net at the buzzer.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Six times his arcing shot swished through the net.
    — Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Allen swished a 3 with two seconds to spare.
    — Doug Haller, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Then swish with a bit more force for a couple minutes per item.
    — Shelby Deering, Country Living, 7 Feb. 2020
  • Flush the toilet to rinse the brush, and swish it in the clean water.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Atwell took the pass and swished the 3 for a 66-64 lead.
    — Doug Haller, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
  • No one could be blamed for wanting to cool off in a pool or swish down a water slide.
    — Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2022
  • To catch the ball like that, turn, and maintain body balance to get that to swish down?
    — Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2020
  • Add cold water to the bowl to cover the leaves and swish to remove any grit.
    — Soleil Ho, latimes.com, 20 June 2019
  • This was just one of dozens of couture gowns that swished along the Riviera.
    — Rachel Syme, The New Republic, 10 Oct. 2019
  • Submerge and swish the clams around, dislodging any dirt or sand.
    — Christian Reynoso, SFChronicle.com, 22 Jan. 2021
  • Submerge the spinach and gently swish it around to loosen dirt and debris.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
  • If in doubt, stick your finger in the flower’s center and swish it around.
    — Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2021
  • This was supposed to be magic, swished in from waaaaay downtown.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026
  • Citron swished a shot from half-court but didn't release the ball before the buzzer.
    — ABC News, 15 May 2026
  • Place them in a bowl and cover with very cold water, using your hands to swish them around.
    — Washington Post, 17 June 2021
  • Enough time to splash his face upstairs, swish around a little toothpaste, change his shirt.
    — Emma Cline, The New Yorker, 1 June 2020
  • Karaban swished his first and only 3-pointer of the night.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Gently swish the colander in the water, then allow the berries to drain.
    — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2022
  • As the shot swished through the net, James lifted Kennard off his feet.
    — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Add the greens to a large bowl of cold water and swish them vigorously to loosen any dirt.
    — Alexa Weibel, New York Times, 14 May 2020
  • Fill a bowl or sink with water, add a drop of fabric softener, and swish it around.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Fill a bowl or sink with water, add a drop of fabric softener, and swish it around.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Fill a bowl or sink with water, add a drop of fabric softener, and swish it around.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Open the container, remove the meat, and swish around the liquid sand salt.
    — Cameron Johnson, Popular Mechanics, 12 May 2021
  • Scrap all that, because Morris’ shot did swish cleanly through the net.
    — Ron Kroichick, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Feb. 2022
  • Wang could be seen chair-dancing to the soulful tunes, and guests clapped along as the group swished across a makeshift dance floor.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 June 2019

swish

2 of 3 noun
  • Just call it the dish-and-swish.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Mullins launched a shot from 35 feet and … swish.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Add a squeeze of lemon juice, then add your tools to the water and give them a swish.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Give the bowl a quick swish with some vinegar and a toilet brush, then flush.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Drain out the dirty water, then refill with clean, lukewarm water and give the scarf a few more swishes.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Wipe toothpaste splatters from the mirror, run a cloth over the counters, and give the toilet bowl a quick swish.
    — Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 June 2026
  • Wipe toothpaste splatters from the mirror, run a cloth over the counters, and give the toilet bowl a quick swish.
    — Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Tenette drove the lane, Simmons collapsed, Tenette kicked to Haupt on the left wing … swish.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
  • The swish of chainmail coming down the runway was audible, as models slinked down the catwalk decked in statement pelts and belts.
    — Anika Reed, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
  • With one swish of her hair, Thompson reminded us that beauty doesn’t always require bells and whistles.
    — Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Now there’s a new celebrity in Greenfield, a purveyor of swishes instead of verses.
    — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
  • One touch to control the ball with his right foot, his strongest, one glorious swish of his left foot, his weakest, apparently, to smash it home.
    — Matt Slater, New York Times, 23 June 2026
  • Their play is a symphony of cheers and swishes, conversation and laughter, dribbling balls and rattling rims.
    — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The tables were empty and the bar deserted, the only sign of life the clank and swish of dishes being washed in the back, through the swinging double doors.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • In a video posted last week, Cooper’s camera caught the swish of rags and the hum of voices as a few of her family members and friends worked to get the shop ready for its grand opening.
    — Evan Moore august 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025
  • And following every swish, the Rockets crowd broke from tradition and applauded the visiting guard.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Luke produced the latest entry in that series last week — a detailed swish through F1’s long history in the United States.
    — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Banchero had the game-sealing shot, too — a 3-pointer that hit the rim, bounced a couple stories into the air, then dropped through the net with the softest of swishes with about 40 seconds left.
    — ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • As California’s water crisis worsened, recalling the constant swish of sprinklers throughout her childhood piqued her interest in native plants.
    — Brittany Levine Beckman, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • With a swish of a wand and stir of a cauldron, Practical Magic 2 has officially wrapped production, star Nicole Kidman announced today on Instagram.
    — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
  • When Enskat moves, sound designer Torben Kärst follows each rigorous swish of her cane and each brutal, balletic step (clop-CLOP, clop-CLOP).
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 May 2026
  • The 18-year-old Senegal forward had just breathed competitive tension into this World Cup game, reducing the French advantage to 2-1 in second-half stoppage time, only for one devastating swish of Kylian Mbappe’s right foot to decide the outcome once and for all.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 16 June 2026

swish

3 of 3 adjective
  • Submerge the cashmere and swish to rinse.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Then gently swish and squeeze the crochet item in the solution; don't wring or scrub.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026
  • What's more, the city has a swish new hotel catering to travelers who are here for pleasure more than business.
    — Diana Hubbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
  • There isn’t a fitness centre on site, but guests get free day passes to the swish Bodytech gym, which is a 10-minute walk away.
    — Laura French, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Your taste buds just stop firing properly, leaving you to helplessly swish and gargle your beer in a doomed attempt to detect its subtle notes of hibiscus.
    — The Editors Of Gq, GQ, 23 June 2017
  • The Vale can be combined with a stay at Silverstone’s swish Escapade hotel or in a luxury yurt on the inner track.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Guests get to enjoy not one, but two different restaurant cars and two lounges, plus a swish private club, each designed to have their own character and specific ambience.
    — Marianna Cerini, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2023
  • Russell let the rest of Taylor-Joy's long hair fall in loose, barely there waves, with most of the curl concentrated just at the ends for movement and swish factor.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Add a small amount of a gentle liquid detergent recommended for hand-washing delicate items, such as Woolite, and swish to disperse through the water.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Once a house of ill repute, then a butcher shop, The Rookery has since been transformed into a seriously swish 33-room boutique hotel.
    — Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The list goes on, though; roast goose and crispy fried pigeon star on the menu at The Legacy House, and stylish couples swish into DarkSide for live jazz even on most evenings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 June 2026
  • Thankfully, the silhouette is the epitome of trendy, offering a versatile design that includes a side swish, contrasting textiles, and bold colors.
    — Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Thankfully, the silhouette is the epitome of trendy, offering a versatile design that includes a side swish, contrasting textiles, and bold colors.
    — Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 3 Jan. 2026
  • Thankfully, the silhouette is the epitome of trendy, offering a versatile design that includes a side swish, contrasting textiles, and bold colors.
    — Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 30 May 2026
  • Biarritz was once the residence of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie, who helped convert Europe’s calm seaside city into a swish summer retreat for royalty.
    — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
  • When Barca hosted Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stages in September, Laporta and his counterpart Nasser Al-Khelaifi happily posed together for the cameras before lunch at the Catalan capital’s swish Via Veneto restaurant.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • There was more intrigue at the annual UTA, Curtis Brown And C&W at the Bo Tree Hotel’s swish Lavo, where new Channel 4 boss Priya Dogra was spotted chewing the fat with UTA top brass, including Curtis Brown CEO Jonny Geller.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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