The word “swooped” means to move suddenly and quickly downwards through the air in a smooth curving movement. Here are some synonyms and an analysis of each:
plunged: This term can imply a more forceful downward movement, often with a sense of suddenness. For example, “The eagle plunged from the sky to catch its prey.” It suggests a more intense and perhaps less graceful descent than “swooped”.
dove: “The bird dove towards the water to catch a fish.” Dive can be used as a synonym for swooped when referring to a quick downward movement. It often implies a direct and purposeful descent.
pounced: This word usually implies a sudden attack or movement with a sense of aggression. “The cat pounced on the mouse.” While it is not exactly the same as swooped, it can be used in situations where there is a sudden and decisive movement towards something.
lunged: “He lunged at his opponent.” Lunged can be used to describe a sudden forward movement, but it can also be used metaphorically to describe a sudden action. In some cases, it can be similar to swooped if the movement is in a downward or forward direction.
descended: This is a more general term for moving downwards. “The plane descended towards the runway.” While it doesn't have the same sense of speed and grace as swooped, it can be used in a more neutral context to describe a downward movement.
In conclusion, these synonyms for “swooped” offer different ways to describe a sudden and often graceful downward movement. The choice of synonym depends on the specific context and the intended tone of the description.