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Definition 2024


swiftboat

swiftboat

See also: swift boat

English

Alternative forms

Verb

swiftboat (third-person singular simple present swiftboats, present participle swiftboating, simple past and past participle swiftboated)

  1. (US, politics, pejorative, transitive) To attack a politician with specious claims.
  2. (slang, transitive) To trick, scam, or swindle.
    If you're going to try and swiftboat me for the Petermann account, keep on dreaming.

Usage notes

  • As the term's non-political origin is still widely recognized, some refrain from using it as a verb in a political context out of respect for veterans not associated with the political group.

See also