swish

[ swish ]

/ swɪʃ /

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See synonyms for: swish / swished / swishes / swishing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to move with or make a sibilant sound, as a slender rod cutting sharply through the air or as small waves washing on the shore.

to rustle, as silk.

to move or behave in an exaggeratedly effeminate manner.

verb (used with object)

to flourish, whisk, etc., with a swishing movement or sound: to swish a cane.

to bring, take, cut, etc., with such a movement or sound: to swish off the tops of plants with a cane.

to flog or whip.

noun

a swishing movement or sound.

a stock or rod for flogging or a stroke with this.

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to an effeminate gay man.

adjective

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. swishy (def. 2).

Chiefly British Informal. stylishly elegant; fashionable.

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Origin of swish

First recorded in 1750–60; imitative

OTHER WORDS FROM swish

swish·er, nounswish·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby swish

swipe card, swipes, swipple, swirl, swirly, swish, swishy, Swiss, Swiss army knife, Swiss ball, Swiss chard

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use swish in a sentence

Place them in a bowl and cover with very cold water, using your hands to swish them around.
How to make crispy air-fryer fries with no fuss and very little muss|Daniela Galarza|June 17, 2021|Washington Post
Henry launched a lid-lifting three-point shot from out front on the first possession, and it swished.
UCLA plots a comeback to oust Michigan State in overtime to cap NCAA tournament’s opening night|Chuck Culpepper, Des Bieler, Matt Bonesteel, Cindy Boren, Glynn A. Hill, Molly Hensley-Clancy|March 19, 2021|Washington Post
Ever an overachiever, I swished it around about 20 times, and it tickled.
I’m in a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial, and Now I’ve Got a Big Decision to Make|Randy Dotinga|February 24, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Imagine if the swishing threads inside your jeans pocket could charge your cell phone.
Bye-bye batteries? Power a phone with fabric or a beacon with sound|Kathryn Hulick|January 6, 2021|Science News For Students

Star center Nikola Jokić’s one-legged, leaning fadeaways, which nearly touch the rafters before swishing through, would get the “Sport Science” treatment.
When It Comes To Playoff Disappointment, The Clippers Are In A League Of Their Own|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 16, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
SB Nation and their Swish Appeal site do a pretty bang-up job, as well.
Women's Sports Are Getting Less Airtime|Evelyn Shoop|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Odds are, you expected Jackson to swish all three, but first freebie dribbled off the front of the rim and suddenly, hope renewed!
Was Aaron Harrison’s Game-Winning Three-Pointer ‘Clutch’?|Robert Silverman|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Kavala Graha, you use a smaller amount of oil, swish between the teeth, and gargle at the back of the throat.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Caldecott says that if you swish oil for too long, you could accidentally breathe some into your lungs.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Swish it, especially around the cheeks and upper palate, and pull it through your teeth.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The swish of a skirt seemed ridiculously loud in the hush, and the scratching of the judge's quill pen was noisily irritating.
You Never Know Your Luck, Complete|Gilbert Parker
"Here's Kitty," said the maker of mineral waters, as there was the swish of a skirt at the door.
You Never Know Your Luck, Complete|Gilbert Parker
Suddenly they parted, with quick swish and rapid rustling of leaves, and the next moment appeared a wonderful vision.
Menotah|Ernest G. Henham
Three sounds of increase: the lowing of a cow in milk; the din of a smithy; the swish of a plough.
Ancient Irish Poetry|Various
Suddenly we heard the swish of a dress behind, and turned, conscience-stricken, though we had in nothing sinned.
Penelope's Experiences in Scotland|Kate Douglas Wiggin

British Dictionary definitions for swish

swish

/ (swɪʃ) /

verb

to move with or make or cause to move with or make a whistling or hissing sound

(intr) (esp of fabrics) to rustle

(tr) slang, rare to whip; flog

(tr foll by off) to cut with a swishing blow

noun

a hissing or rustling sound or movement

a rod for flogging or a blow from such a rod

US slang an effeminate male homosexual

a W African building material composed of mortar and mud or laterite, or more recently of cement and earth

adjective

informal, mainly British fashionable; smart

US slang effeminate and homosexual

Derived forms of swish

swisher, nounswishing, adjectiveswishingly, adverb

Word Origin for swish

C18: of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

swish

Origin of swish

OTHER WORDS FROM swish

Words nearby swish

Words related to swish

How to use swish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for swish

Derived forms of swish

Word Origin for swish