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to swail

to swail

9.9
To move gently because of wind, like tall grass
  • verb
  • UK
: mecer
  • The trees swail in the gentle breeze.

Examples

  • The tall reeds swail gracefully along the edge of the lake.

  • As the wind picked up, the flowers began to swail.

  • In the gentle breeze, the curtains began to swail softly.

  • She watched the wildflowers swail in the afternoon sunlight.

  • In the gentle breeze, the curtains began to swail softly.

  • The tall reeds swail gracefully along the edge of the lake.

  • She watched the wildflowers swail in the afternoon sunlight.

Synonyms

to sweep
vsto swail
131 2.1

To move quickly and smoothly in a wide motion

is a small gentle wind driven sway rather than a broad fast glide
to flutter
vsto swail
52 3.5

To move quickly and lightly back and forth, like wings or leaves

is a slow wind driven gentle sway rather than rapid light flapping
to swish
vsto swail
19 4.1

To move with a soft hissing or rustling sound in a smooth sweep

is a gentle slow wind sway rather than a swift noisy sweep
to waver
vsto swail
18 4.8

To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way

is a calm gentle sway caused by wind rather than an unsteady tremble
to nod
vsto swail
1 1.1

Move gently up and down, like flowers in the wind

is a wind driven gentle sway rather than a slow back and forth
to vacillate
vsto swail
1 8.4

To move slowly back and forth like a boat or kite

is a gentle wind driven sway rather than a rising and falling wave
to willow
vsto swail
1 7.8

To sway gently back and forth like thin branches in the wind

is the general gentle sway by wind rather than a branch image
to whiffle
vsto swail
1 7.3

To move or blow gently, making a soft rustling sound

is a steady gentle sway from wind rather than quick gusty motion with sound
to wiffle
vsto swail
8.4

To make a soft swishing sound when something moves quickly through the air

is a calm wind driven sway rather than a quick noisy pass through air

Antonyms

44 4.3

To become steady and stop changing

Not move from a place

How Strong

to reel
4 4.6
to swail
  • UK
9.9
to tremble
144 2.5
to quiver
50 4.5

Surface Forms

swail infinitive
swaled past
swaled past participle
swailing present participle
swails third person singular

Etymology

Swail as a verb probably links to the simple word sway, and a helpful way to remember it is to think of 'sway' — to swail is to move or bend gently, as reeds or curtains do in a soft breeze.