swash

1 of 4

verb

ˈswäsh

ˈswȯsh

swashed; swashing; swashes

Synonyms of swash

intransitive verb

: bluster, swagger

: to make violent noisy movements

: to move with a splashing sound

transitive verb

: to cause to splash

swash

2 of 4

noun (1)

: swagger

: a narrow channel of water lying within a sandbank or between a sandbank and the shore

: a dashing of water against or on something

especially : the rush of water up a beach from a breaking wave

swash

3 of 4

noun (2)

: an extended flourish on a printed character

swash

4 of 4

adjective

: having one or more swashes

swash capitals

Examples of swash in a Sentence

Verb waves gently swashing against the shore every bump in the road swashed a little more of my soda on the car's upholstery

Recent Examples on the Web

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Verb

Recurring character Goro Majima swashes his buckles as the sole protagonist, taking to the seas having suffered from an almighty case of pirate amnesia. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025

Noun

This cushiony highlighter deposits a swash of subtle champagne, rose quartz, or gold while the squalane (the secret star of the show) provides moisture for a long-lasting look that provides a skin-like, never cakey, finish. —Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 5 Oct. 2024 The dessert menu is just as backward-looking (or, more generously, classic-minded) as the savory offerings: cheesecake with a swash of berry sauce, dark chocolate pot de crème. —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 30 June 2024 Other dishes were similarly transcendent: a slab of duck breast was tender and rare, with crisp skin and a dazzling swash of orange sauce. —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024 Hourglass Scattered Light Eyeshadow Hourglass’s Scattered Light Eyeshadow is a fun date night accessory thanks to a swash of sparkle that’s easy to apply: just a few dabs of product onto your eyelid, and the pearls will reflect light beautifully. —Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 28 Sep. 2023 Some big trout are still in the swash on the beach at dawn, though this action will slow as the water continues to warm—topwaters get them. —Frank Sargeant, al, 18 June 2021 Glow Set a travel necessity—perfect for quick makeup touch-ups, passing through TSA, or a shimmering swash of color. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2021 Hollywood’s history is rich with swash-buckling scenes. —Allison Prang, WSJ, 22 Oct. 2021 Next in line are those tiny sand crabs that tickle your toes in the swash zone, where waves push up onto the sloping beachfront leaving lines of foam and clumps of oil. —Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably imitative

Noun (2)

obsolete English swash slanting

First Known Use

Verb

1556, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1683, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1683, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of swash was in 1556

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Swash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swash. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

swash

1 of 2 verb

ˈswäsh

ˈswȯsh

: bluster entry 1 sense 2

: to make violent noisy movements

: to move with a splashing sound

swash

2 of 2 noun

: swagger entry 2

: a dashing of water against or upon something

swash

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of swash in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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swash

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of swash in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for swash

Browse Nearby Words

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Kids Definition

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Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

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