swing 1 of 2

noun

Definition of swingnext
1
as in licence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
And don’t worry, no hotel rooms were damaged with Taylor and Lindor taking swings. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 May 2025 The fort will be open for people to explore at their own pace and special events are planned including a flag ceremony, cannon firing, swing band performances, a period speech from World War II as well as a performance by the Fife & Drum Corps. —Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
Verb
At the end of the hour, Joe Jr. swings by to see Bernie, but no one else sees him there. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 May 2025 Adorable plush toys swing overhead in time with baby’s movement, so your child can watch them while rocking. —Pamela Brill, Parents, 22 May 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
  • This lack of movement on a new deal is particularly noteworthy given Kross's current role on WWE Raw.
    — Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
  • Anonymity has emerged as a hot-button issue in recent years, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement, as one side argues that if a celebrity faces public allegations of assault, the accuser should be forced to come forward, too.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Definition of movement
Noun
  • To be fair, the genre’s shift from rollicking to restrained may also have to do with how memoirs’ factuality is now so regularly challenged.
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
  • This, combined with shifts in body heat and routine, might help explain why cats become especially attentive.
    — Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Definition of shift
Verb
  • An example might be a SaaS company adding consulting or training services that enhance the core software experience without deviating too far from its expertise.
    — Will Fan, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • The spending proposal lawmakers approved, negotiated among the Democratic House and Senate leaders and the governor’s office, deviates from Pritzker’s original plan in certain areas, including funding for elementary and secondary education.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • There’s also this: Auston Matthews has only three years remaining on his contract and will turn 28 later this fall.
    — Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • The first of these books predates the first Slow Horses novel by a few years — many of them have already been turned into films in Denmark — but the themes and tone are similar enough to appeal to anyone who’s fallen for Gary Oldman and company on the Apple spy series.
    — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
Definition of turn
Verb
  • This may surprise the more than 1 million Californians who received $21.65 apiece from the state in mid-May after a settlement reached by state Attorney General Rob Bonta with three gasoline trading firms that allegedly manipulated gas prices in 2016 during another refinery outage.
    — Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
  • Deepfakes are manipulated images, audio recordings, or videos of real people that have been altered with artificial intelligence to misrepresent someone as saying or doing something that the person did not actually say or do.
    — Alain Sherter, CBS News, 6 June 2025
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • The Chargers rotated heavily at corner in Tuesday’s practice.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • The brigade rotates its infantry only on days when fog, rain, snow, or heavy wind limit the enemy’s visibility.
    — Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Atlantic, 27 May 2025
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • The tree in the victim’s front yard stood intact, with structural debris, a blanket and a flannel coat still hanging from the branches.
    — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2025
  • Just stack the shoeboxes on top of each other, and secure them with string or glue before creating a way to hang it in your closet.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 1 June 2025
Definition of hang
Verb
  • Nearly one in three Floridians struggles to afford basic expenses, yet a starting teacher’s salary fails to meet even the minimum $57,064 annual income required for an individual to cover personal costs.
    — Lakeisha Wells Palmer, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
  • Which is good news for a team that can’t afford to be without one of its most potent hitters.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
Definition of afford

Browse Nearby Words

swineherds
swing
swinging
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Cite this Entry

“Swing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swing. Accessed 10 Jun. 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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