as in smacked
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swatted
Berglund swatted it toward the left post and an unguarded Eklund scored easily.
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Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
Long regarded as the league’s premier backcourt shot-blocker, White has swatted aside 289 shots over the last four seasons, 57 more than second-place Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and more than 100 more than any other guard.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
The 2025 Broncos, with a title-worthy defense, are 11-2 in one-score games including 3-2 in those decided on the final play (four on field goals and one when linebacker Nik Bonitto swatted away a 2-point conversion attempt in an overtime win in Week 13).
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
Silva swatted away two shots and impacted countless others on defense, while Miles started to getting hot on the other end.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Dec. 2025
The association swatted back at the transfer rules being pushed onto them by state legislators.
—Tyler Palmateer, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025
As Okongwu fell to the floor, the ball floated in the air and Bane swatted it down off Okongwu’s head like a volleyball player executing a spike.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025
That tension is swatted at in the film, but only perfunctorily.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
When Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw noted apprehension by some that the Ellisons are in league with the president and MAGA on a certain media track, the Par CEO swatted the topic away decisively.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swatted
Verb
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The group has smacked around quarterbacks, tackled well and dominated most key areas but hasn’t taken the ball away like an elite defense.—
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We’re getting smacked around by teams by 30, 40 points.—
Verb
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Five players were booked during their defeat to Cameroon, including Foster, who slapped the linesman’s hand twice and screamed in his face in frustration over a decision.—
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Its tail slapped the surface of the water, marking la paiche’s territory.—
Verb
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White egrets stood in the shallows, a woodpecker knocked somewhere nearby, and pairs of green parrots flew upstream, beating their wings in time.—
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He was eventually knocked free of the vehicle, and suffered significant lacerations that required 33 stitches, the official said.—
Verb
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Iowa then got three good looks from the three-point line in the final seconds but couldn't hit the tying shot.—
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Despite their franchise history dating back to the mid-70s (via Kansas City and Colorado), which includes essentially all of the highest-scoring era in league history, the New Jersey Devils have never had a player hit either of the game’s most basic offensive milestones.—
Verb
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With a merciless 56-22 thumping of Oregon in the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers punched their ticket to their first national championship game appearance in program history.—
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Jenkins brutally stomped and punched Coto, who was severely injured and put on life support.—
Verb
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Wilson slammed Homeland Security officials for the shooting that came a day after a woman was fatally shot by immigration agents in Minneapolis.—
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Many Democrats have slammed the administration's conclusions, arguing that the video does not appear to show the woman trying to hit officers.—
Verb
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Dostal blocked Hughes’ slap shot from the point, but Kaprizov banged a shot past Dostal after a scramble in front of the net for his 24th goal.—
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Dostal blocked Hughes' slap shot from the point, but Kaprizov banged a shot past Dostal after a scramble in front of the net for his 24th goal.—
Verb
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The dancers wove through the crowd as others clapped along in raucous celebration.—
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Quite a crowd had gathered by then, most of them the retired and the conventioneers who wander aimlessly up and down Kalakaua Avenue in the off seasons, and, when two police officers finally drove up, the crowd clapped.—
Cite this Entry
“Swatted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swatted. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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