swat

Hit something sharply

To swat is to hit with a quick, sharp blow, typically to kill or drive away an insect: She swatted the fly with a rolled-up newspaper.

The word extends to any quick slapping motion: He swatted the ball away.

A swat is such a blow: One swat and the mosquito was gone. (Capitalized SWAT is a tactical police unit.)

strike

slap

Open-handed blow

smackStrike with open hand
whackForceful striking blow
swipeQuick sliding motion

hit · bat · thwack · flick · smash · wallop · clobber · thump · knock · clout

insect

flyswatter

Handheld bug killer

mosquitoBlood-feeding flying pest
flyTwo-winged buzzing insect
bugCrawling creature or defect

pest · flypaper · buzz · nuisance · gnat · wasp · horsefly · shoo · zap · splat

Categories

blocked shotsrejection, shot block
sudden actionsjolt, punch, slap, kick, slam
impact soundsbam, bang, bash, bonk, boom
dismissdismiss, brush off, brush aside, wave away, wave off
touchestouch, pat, tap, rub, stroke
slugginghome run, homer, dinger, grand slam, blast

Opposites

force of contact

Gentle loving touch

tap · pat · stroke · gentle touch · pet

protective action

Held in reserve

ignore · leave alone · let be · tolerate · release

Phrases

fly swatterHandheld bug killer
SWAT teamSpecialized police for high-risk situations
fly swatting
SWAT raidForceful police entry operation
SWAT officerSpecialized armed police personnel
fly swatInsect-killing implement

Family

swatter, swatting

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG