swing 1 of 2

verb

ˈswiŋ How to pronounce swing (audio)
Definition of swingnext
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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

swing

2 of 2

noun

1
as in licence

Related Words
2
as in movement

Related Words
3
as in shift

Related 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
Verb
Bring potted hibiscus inside if the weather forecast calls for a significant temperature swing and chilly weather. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2025 For a bigger swing, consider a small play on PSG to score more than 2.5 goals in 90 minutes at 2-to-1 odds. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
Noun
There is all sorts of chatter around the league about the Padres looking to swing big at the trade deadline to land a player who can give them some big swings. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025 Instead of giving us people to criticize, Curry offers first responders who went out in boats as the water levels rose, coast guardsman who swung down from helicopters to save those stranded on rooftops, and countless civilians who helped their families and strangers alike. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for swing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swing
  1. deviate
  2. turn
  3. manipulate
  4. rotate
  5. hang
  6. afford
  7. movement
  8. shift
Verb
  • For one thing, AI currently lacks the creativity, intuition or adaptability needed to deftly handle any emergency that deviates from historical flight data.
    — Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 21 July 2025
  • Because the river winds, the streets accessing the docks in Lincoln Yards had to deviate in their headings.
    — F.K. Plous, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Definition of deviate
Verb
  • Then, as the century turned, the boys were pushed aside by rough young men.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 15 July 2025
  • That turned into a backlash from within Trump's MAGA base when the DOJ and the FBI then stated in a memo there would be no new investigations of uncharged third parties.
    — Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Definition of turn
Verb
  • Fast-forward to this month, when Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement to move past Trump's claims that CBS's 60 Minutes deceptively manipulated a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
  • The Dershowitz theory does not compute because the government invariably manipulates projections about future harm for ulterior partisan or personal motives.
    — Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 24 July 2025
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • There are also rotating daily specials, with vegetarian versions typically available.
    — Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 26 July 2025
  • Since its debut on Sept. 1, 1991, E! News has featured a rotating lineup of hosts, delivering pop culture updates to audiences around the world.
    — Jordana Comiter, People.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • Early risers on Monday, July 21, will be treated to a striking scene in the eastern sky before sunrise as a slender crescent moon hangs just above brilliant Venus, with the red-orange star Aldebaran completing an equilateral triangle.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • Best Restaurants Enjoying a prime location on White Sand Beach, this bar and restaurant puts out cozy chairs and tables directly on the sand at sunset, and colorful handmade light fixtures hang from the mangrove trees to provide a calming glow as dusk falls.
    — Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025
Definition of hang
Verb
  • But training those drivers is expensive, Merrifield said, so colleges can’t necessarily afford to enroll more students.
    — Natalie Yahr, jsonline.com, 19 July 2025
  • Teams are afforded three two-way contracts per season.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
Definition of afford
Noun
  • Revelations about President Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and demands that the Justice Department release further documentation about the Epstein case, have sent shockwaves through the MAGA movement.
    — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • The strategy was to pressure Pereira, land effective strikes, keep the threat of a takedown in Pereira's head, and exploit his lack of defensive movement.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of movement
Noun
  • Having navigated significant challenges, including the devastating hurricanes of 2017, a global pandemic and political shifts, the territory has emerged stronger than ever.
    — Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
  • The recent fight at San Diego City Hall over how many middle managers the city employs could signal the start of a shift away from such jobs in the future, after years of their ranks quickly growing.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
Definition of shift

Browse Nearby Words

swineherds
swing
swinging
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swing. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on swing

Nglish: Translation of swing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about swing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All