swish 1 of 3

noun

Definition of swishnext
1
as in whistle
a sound similar to the speech sound \s\ stretched out the steady swish of the windshield wipers

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2
as in flap
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down the mare brushed away the flies with a sweeping swish of her tail

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swish

2 of 3

verb

ˈswish How to pronounce swish (audio)
1
as in to hiss
to make a sound like that of stretching out the speech sound \s\ with their satin costumes swishing, the little ballerinas chasséd onto the stage

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2
as in to flick
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions the horse's tail swishes after every jump

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swish

3 of 3

adjective

as in stylish
being in the latest or current fashion a trendy boutique filled with swish accessories for the urban fashionista

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 swish
Noun
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 And following every swish, the Rockets crowd broke from tradition and applauded the visiting guard. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Western Ghats mountains tumble down the west coast of India like a breaking wave, swishing through six states and across nearly 1,000 miles. — Susan D'arcy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2026 Edwards hit a buzzer-beating 31-footer at the end of the first quarter, and McDaniels swished a 3-pointer from the wing to end the first half with a 51-all tie. — CBS News, 9 May 2026
Adjective
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, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for swish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swish
  1. whistle
  2. flap
  3. hiss
  4. flick
  5. stylish
  6. zip
  7. whisk
  8. swing
Noun
  • As the halftime whistle blew, fans surely would have been thanking the gods for the respite, not from the heat, but rather the lack of any substantive action.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • From the first whistle until fans exited the parking lots, Colombian supporters who descended upon Kansas City made quite a racket.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
Definition of whistle
Noun
  • The life-size robotic elephants in Prasanth Prakashan's backyard workshop have ears that flap, tails that swish and trunks that squirt water.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • French forward Marcus Thuram carried a bright green suede maxi flap bag from a Chanel collaboration with Pharrell Williams, while Rayan Cherki carried an oversized Hermès Kelly Maxi.
    — Teddy Brown, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Definition of flap
Verb
  • Then a hissing arrow pins a golden soccer ball to the Clash of Clans escutcheon.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026
  • There’s plenty of feline choreography, like crawling, meowing, and hissing.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026
Definition of hiss
Verb
  • After Florian Wirtz crossed in from the left side of the pitch, Kai Havertz got just enough of his head on the ball to flick it into the far side of the goal.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
  • After a corner kick and a nice cross, Sanchez flicked the ball in with his head as Colombian fans erupted.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026
Definition of flick
Adjective
  • Even a 73-year-old shopper was impressed by its stylish, comfortable fit.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
  • The culotte-style stretchy shorts are equal parts comfortable and stylish, and the high-neck top can be worn either tucked-in or down and loose.
    — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Definition of stylish
Noun
  • Keep in the original packaging, but once opened, transfer to an airtight container or zip-top bag.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
  • The internal zip pocket kept small valuables, such as my passport, Kindle, and lip balm, accessible without need for rummaging.
    — Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 July 2026
Definition of zip
Noun
  • Vigorously whisk remaining 1 cup of cream with powdered sugar in a large bowl until medium-stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
  • Transfer peach juice to 12-inch skillet, add pectin mixture, and whisk until combined.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
Definition of whisk
Verb
  • Beat a prime Holloway at 170, though, and the door swings back open to the paydays he's chased since the rematch became official.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • To the fans who have watched the Warriors swing and miss on free agents and various trade targets over the last few years, watching Simons sign with another team was painful.
    — Nick Friedell, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of swing

Browse Nearby Words

swirly
swish
swished
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Cite this Entry

“Swish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on swish

Nglish: Translation of swish for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about swish

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