Synonyms for “swooped” include “plunged”, “dived”, and “pounced”.
“Plunged” suggests a sudden and forceful downward movement. For example, “The hawk plunged from the sky to catch its prey.” It implies a rapid descent or entry into something with a certain intensity. Just like “swooped”, it conveys a sense of swift and decisive action.
“Dived” also indicates a downward movement, often with a graceful or purposeful intent. For instance, “The dolphin dived into the ocean depths.” It can be used to describe a quick and direct movement towards a target, similar to the way a bird might swoop down.
“Pounced” emphasizes a sudden attack or seizure. For example, “The cat pounced on the mouse.” It implies a quick and aggressive action, much like a bird swooping to catch something. While “pounced” may be more associated with an attack on a specific target, it shares the element of suddenness and quick action with “swooped”.
In summary, these words all capture different aspects of the action of swooping. They can be used in different contexts to describe a rapid, downward, or aggressive movement towards a goal or target.