swooping
Arcing down fast
Swooping describes a swift, curving descent or movement—the motion of a bird diving toward prey, or a hand sweeping down to grab something.
The word captures both speed and arc: A hawk came swooping down from the sky.
Figuratively, someone swooping in arrives suddenly and decisively: She swooped in at the last minute to save the deal.
Sudden attack leap
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- dive-bombAerial plunging assault
- stoopSmall entry porch
- huntPursuit of quarry
attack · ambush · talons · raptor · hawk · falcon · eagle · owl
Engineless aerial movement
- soaringRising effortlessly upward
- divingEntering water deliberately
- plungingDescending steeply and quickly
- arcingMoving along curved trajectory
curving · circling · spiraling · skimming · dipping · banking · wheeling · descending
pounce
Sudden attack leap
hunt · attack · ambush · talons · raptor · hawk · falcon · eagle · owl · prey
gliding
Engineless aerial movement
- soaringRising effortlessly upward
- divingEntering water deliberately
- plungingDescending steeply and quickly
arcing · curving · circling · spiraling · skimming · dipping · banking · wheeling · descending · looping
dive
Headfirst water entry
nosedive · freefall · downward · dip · fall · stoop · decline · spiral · tumble · pitch
grab
Seize abruptly
foray · incursion · sortie · pillage · marauding · looting · descend upon · blitz · ambush
- bird behaviorsflying, soaring, perching, nesting, migrating
- locomotionwalking, running, crawling, swimming, flying
- predator traitssharp teeth, sharp claws, fangs, claws, talons
- air sportsskydiving, paragliding, hang gliding, wingsuit flying, parachuting
- gliding movementssoaring, glissando, sailing, sliding, coasting
- predationstalking, pursuit, pouncing, attack, killing