Swagman

/ˈswæɡmæn/

Synonyms for "swagman" (86 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (18)

Noun(1 words)
ballad character

Strong matches (25)

fencefloatergamingaminegood-for-naughtgood-for-nothingguttersnipehobohomeless waifhuman wreckidlerlandloperlazzaroneloaferlosellowlifemauvais sujetmean wretchmuckermudlark
Show 2 more words
no goodno-good
Noun(3 words)
folkloric figureitinerant workermythic wanderer

Related words (43)

pauvre diablepikerpilgarlicpoor creaturepoor devilragamuffinragmanragpickerreceiverroadsterroundersad casesad sackshackski bumskid-row bumstiffstraystreet arabstreet urchin
Show 20 more words
Noun(3 words)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: arab, ballad character, beach bum, beachcomber, beggar.
  • Sentence evidence is available for swagman, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "swagman".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "swagman"

Keep "swagman" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "swagman" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "swagman", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "swagman" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

8 entries
adult malecultural symbolfolkloric figuremanpersonswaggerswaggieworker

More specific

4 entries
Waltzing Matilda characterballad figurebush swagmanroadside swagman

Collocations

6 entries
Australian folkloreWaltzing Matildabush swagmanitinerant workerroaming laborerswagman song

Inflections

1 entries

Derivations

3 entries

Sample sentences

10 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

And then the swagman was such a companionable little fellow, and told such funny little yarns, and sung so many snatches of odd songs whilst he was at work that once or twice the old man relaxed the cross expression of his facial muscles, and allowed himself to be betrayed into a grim smile, and at last suffered himself to be drawn into conversation, although his answers were short and snappish.

Source: wiktionary

Then the bells struck up for church, and the streets became crowded with well-dressed, warmly-clothed people, hurrying to their various places of worship, and casting glances of pitying curiosity at the two miserable, half-drowned swagmen as they passed.

Source: wiktionary

[T]he class who exercise the most depressing influence on these rates, little as the unhappy men think themselves so, will be found to consist of idlers and swagmen.

Source: wiktionary

Some men, under this plea of "wanting a job," are merely travelling from one part of the country to another for private reasons, and they pick up meat, bread, and tea at each station they pass. [...] We have already remarked that these bush- or swagmen carry "swags," i.e. a blanket made up into a roll six feet in length; the two ends lashed together making the whole resemble one huge horse-collar: this is carried either hanging from one shoulder or resting on the head and back like a coalheaver's pad.

Source: wiktionary

Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "swagman"?

Closest matches include arab, ballad character, beach bum, beachcomber, beggar.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "swagman"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "swagman"