swing 1 of 2

noun

Definition of swingnext
1
as in licence

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2
as in movement

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3
as in shift

Synonyms & Similar Words

swing

2 of 2

verb

ˈswiŋ How to pronounce swing (audio)
1
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction thinking that we were being followed, we abruptly swung to the left at the next intersection swing right at James St.

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2
as in to turn
to change the course or direction of (something) at the sound of gunfire, the cavalry officer swung his horse around and galloped rapidly back to the fort

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3
as in to manipulate
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently a man who's able to swing two full-time jobs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to rotate
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis he swung the bat as hard as he could but he missed the ball don't let the wind swing that gate shut

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5
as in to hang
to place on an elevated point without support from below beach towels swung up to dry on the lifeguard's high chair

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6
as in to afford
to have enough money for I don't think that we can swing that hefty a mortgage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of swing are fluctuate, oscillate, sway, undulate, vibrate, and waver. While all these words mean "to move from one direction to its opposite," swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.

the door suddenly swung open

When might fluctuate be a better fit than swing?

Although the words fluctuate and swing have much in common, fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.

fluctuating interest rates

When is it sensible to use oscillate instead of swing?

The words oscillate and swing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.

an oscillating fan

When could sway be used to replace swing?

While in some cases nearly identical to swing, sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.

trees swaying in the breeze

When can undulate be used instead of swing?

In some situations, the words undulate and swing are roughly equivalent. However, undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.

an undulating sea of grass

Where would vibrate be a reasonable alternative to swing?

The meanings of vibrate and swing largely overlap; however, vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.

the vibrating strings of a piano

In what contexts can waver take the place of swing?

While the synonyms waver and swing are close in meaning, waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.

the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

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 swing
Noun
McMullen led Kroger for more than a decade during a period of growth, steering the grocery chain through the pandemic and managing inflation but failing to pull off his biggest swing: an acquisition of rival Albertsons. —Nathan Bomey, Axios, 3 Mar. 2025 Before the winners of those competitions are decided – particularly Soca Monarch and the Carnival Road March – producers and artists spent the months leading up to Carnival dropping their best swings at the season’s defining soca anthems. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
That’s early enough to swing by the world-class Museo Nacional del Prado and grab tapas afterwards. —Edward Russell, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2025 If Musk and the DOGE team swing open those steel doors to discover the vault only half full, one immediate casualty could be the U.S. dollar’s reputation. —Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swing
  1. movement
  2. shift
  3. deviate
  4. turn
  5. manipulate
  6. rotate
  7. hang
  8. afford
Noun
  • No matter how they’re conceived, wet rooms are just another way homeowners are immersing themselves in the wellness movement.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
  • In that and subsequent braid performances, data gleaned from the sensors’ tracking of her movements feeds a machine-learning algorithm, yielding generative models of a Lakȟóta body in motion.
    — Christopher T. Green, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of movement
Noun
  • The comment comes in the wake of a historic shift in the custody of the 007 franchise.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Offer flexibility within a structure to ease the shift.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of shift
Verb
  • But staying focused on your long-term goals and strategy always outperforms quick, short-term wins that might deviate from your vision.
    — Christoffer Bouet, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Even before her tweets resurfaced, the Emilia Pérez star had begun deviating from the film’s standard promotional press campaign by chiding Torres’s social-media strategy.
    — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2025
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • The event’s third iteration is set to run from January to April 2026 at the JAX District, an industrial site turned arts complex in the historic town of Diriyah, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2025
  • If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of turn
Verb
  • But they had been manipulated by homeowners and businesses, and used to block all kinds of new construction.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Editing concerns truly manipulating an image, making changes to particular areas, and adding content like text, shapes, or other images on top of the original.
    — PCMAG, PCMAG, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • Equipped with a flip-up brush and crevice tool as well as a rotating nozzle, the vacuum is compact enough to get into just about any tight space.
    — Ho Lin, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The Xiaomi 15 Ultra Acts Like A Camera In all this, your index finger can reach four physical controls: two buttons, a jog dial, and a rotating dial.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • Some might go so far as to contend that the DDE has been a distraction from more vital discussions and has been an albatross hanging over the necks of ethicists and society.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Over the weekend, Yosemite National Park staffers protested the firing of their colleagues by hanging an upside-down American flag on the side of El Capitan, an iconic rock wall.
    — Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of hang
Verb
  • In an interview with People, the TV star said the financial security that portraying Meredith Grey affords her has been the best part of being on the long-running show.
    — Nicolas Vega, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The certification affords owner and CEO Chelsea Whittington the opportunity to provide marketing and public relations services to government and business entities across the state, the release said.
    — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of afford

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Cite this Entry

“Swing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swing. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on swing

Nglish: Translation of swing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about swing

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