as in smacking
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swatting
In addition to the various homecoming shootings on HBCU campuses, several schools have fallen victim to swatting hoaxes aiming to foster confusion and chaos among the community.
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Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
When Schneider had had enough and put Mason Fluharty on him in the fifth inning with the Blue Jays up 4-2, Ohtani waited out sweeper after sweeper before swatting one out to left center to bring home a run.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
On the earlier date, police were reportedly called to one of the houses after a swatting incident falsely reported a shooting and a dead female victim.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Falsely reporting an emergency to prompt a significant law enforcement response is known as swatting, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
In the other social media post, prosecutors said Curcio included instructions for swatting the ICE lawyer.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2025
So, a fledgling unit of the service set out six months ago to unmask the layers of burner phones, changing phone numbers and SIM cards swatting American officials.
—John Miller, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Activities froze in places like Virginia State University after a swatting call and at Southern University in Louisiana, where classes have already been cancelled through the weekend, another swatting call put the entire campus on high alert.
—ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
Also known as swatting, they're defined as false reports of serious crimes intended to spark a heavy law enforcement response.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swatting
Verb
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And the good vibes of those wins quickly dissolved with Toronto smacking them around in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.—
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Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.—
Verb
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The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive.—
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After hitting just 4 of 30 threes against the Pacers, Miami opened 4 for 4 from distance, shot 8 for 16 on threes in the first half and finished 17 for 32.—
Verb
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
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That means not just the sound of rubber slapping the pavement or the whir of electric motors—the soundtrack of a Formula E race—but something new and artificial or, more generously, bespoke.—
Verb
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Bystander video footage that has since gone viral captured a masked federal agent fire multiple shots into Good's vehicle, which then drove up the street before slamming into the back of another car.—
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Convenience store owners are slamming the proposal as restrictive and unnecessary.—
Verb
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The right words can open doors the heart’s been knocking on for a while.—
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Once the buzz starts, fringe brands come knocking.—
Verb
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The University of Miami defeated Ole Miss, 31-27, in a Fiesta Bowl semifinal thriller, punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.—
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That footage showed Jones elbowing, stomping and punching the boy, and prompted the police investigation.—
Verb
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One woman carried a flag for Palestine, while a man banging a cowbell hung a flag of communist Cuba on his backpack.—
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Gamers have turned to walkthroughs and hints for years, but usually after banging their own heads against difficult challenges, and hence learning something in the process.—
Verb
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The robot showcased exemplary skills with the bat, whacking the ball precisely in a rally of over 100 shots with human-like agility.—
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New York put the screws to its division rival on Tuesday, whacking nine home runs to cruise to a 13-3 victory.—
Cite this Entry
“Swatting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swatting. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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