Newcastle United's surprising push for European football next season also continued after a 2-0 home victory over Liverpool, Senegal striker Papiss Cisse scoring twice.
Adebayor used his physical prowess to floor a fluent Swansea side and to give fourth-placed Tottenham 58 points from 31 games, the same total as North London rivals Arsenal in third spot.
"We showed our true class today. The confidence is building and we're ready for a run," Spurs winger Gareth Bale told Sky Sports.
Togo striker Adebayor restored the advantage for Spurs with a 73rd-minute header from a corner and he wrapped up victory with four minutes remaining by converting Aaron Lennon's right-wing cross.
"We've seen Adebayor do that before, not just against us," said Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers.
"The way they play the ball is just unbelievable, all credit to them," he said.
Newcastle number nine Cisse, equally as imposing as Adebayor, headed his team in front from Hatem Ben Arfa's 19th-minute cross before side-stepping goalkeeper Pepe Reina to notch his second goal in the 59th.
Cisse also looked offside in the build-up to Newcastle's second goal.
Reina's late sending-off was a sign of frustration, according to manager Kenny Dalglish who has won only two league games in 2012.
"It was the frustration of being behind," he said. "When Andy Carroll comes off and runs up the tunnel it's purely disappointment and frustration.
"It's all very well having that but we have to manage that and channel it in a proper way. If we don't stick together and have trust in each other it is going to be a lot more difficult."
