SWING Synonyms: 182 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

swing 1 of 2

noun

Definition of swing

as in license

Related Words

Relevance

as in movement

Related Words

as in shift

Related Words

swing

2 of 2

verb

ˈswiŋ

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

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

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

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

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

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

The fact that Digger is such a big swing creatively and feels miles away from the star’s typically safer IP plays, including his forthcoming Days of Thunder 2, has garnered praise from onlookers. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026 Some observers have read this development as a sign of a regional swing to the right, but there is little evidence of a durable shift in that direction. — Dan Restrepo, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

During that time, the release of what was then-unprecedented stimulus swung the downstream situation from one of caution around order placement to one of concern about insufficient inventory. — Sj Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026 Suburban developers swung hard in the opposite direction, designing large areas around specified activities. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swing

Noun

The school, which opened in 1991, offers several certifications, including private pilots’ licenses and a diploma in aviation, and is popular with international students.

— Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
As part of the plea deal this week, Evans agreed to surrender his law enforcement officer license, court records show.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of license

Noun

Troop movements over the past couple of weeks indicate the group is concentrating on seizing the southwestern highlands, which could then open the way for a push toward the government’s capital, Aden.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
Fifteen years later, the niche local broadcast on K-Beach Radio has ballooned into a cultural movement that extends far behind his alma mater’s campus.

— Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of movement

Noun

The development marks an important shift in the way modern militaries could defend against the growing threat posed by inexpensive drones.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Unlike some abrupt management shifts at theaters, Brätt is not inheriting a season that someone else put together.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of shift

Verb

Neon has been in communication the SCP Wiki team to ensure the film’s distribution does not deviate from their mission and licensing guidelines.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
The complication shows the moon phases for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, with a 135-tooth driving wheel that drastically enhances accuracy, deviating by just one day every 122 years.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of deviate

Verb

The service The service here is a nod to the turn-of-the-last-century where waiters and barmen wear starched white dinner jackets and a pianist serenades your cocktails in a grand salon.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Hidden Planet is the latest in the canon, this time turning the micro-cameras on the world of insects.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of turn

Verb

This concept turned into an exhibit element where visitors could manipulate the parameters themselves and create different fields of grass.

— Megan Fitzgerald, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Our minds take in information from the world (input), manipulate it in some fashion (computation), and then enact behavior (output).

— Benjamin Riley, The Verge, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

The 2026 shows will again feature a rotating assortment of live openers, along with afterparties featuring DJ sets from special guests.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026
Chicken salad sandwiches, hummus, pastries, jam and burrata toast, rotating salads and sandwiches and other bites will be available.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of rotate

Verb

Boorady said Biden was the first president to hang double layers of portraits over the Oval Office fireplace.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
On the House side, Republicans maintain control by an exceedingly narrow margin, meaning there aren’t a lot of low-hanging districts for Democrats to aim for.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of hang

Browse Nearby Words

swineherds

swing

swinging

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Style

“Swing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of swing

noun

verb

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