1
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point
the whirl of the mechanical ride made him dizzy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
so many changes at once had her all in a whirl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stir
a state of noisy, confused activity
lost an earring in the whirl of the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to rotate
to move in circles around an axis or center
the gambler held his breath as the roulette wheel whirled
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly
cars whirling by on the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whirl
Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
Yates punched the air, running back and forth across the stage and propelling into leaps and whirls.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Sep. 2025
Laura Bannister, Curbed, 5 Sep. 2025
Waterspouts are whirling columns of air and water mist above bodies of water and can take two forms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirl
Noun
Feel like giving SimCity 2000 a whirl?
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
Yates punched the air, running back and forth across the stage and propelling into leaps and whirls.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
There will be a huge tornado in whirling fabric and a room dedicated to Oz.
—Laura Bannister, Curbed, 5 Sep. 2025
Waterspouts are whirling columns of air and water mist above bodies of water and can take two forms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
-
The team’s elite rotation of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani has carried the load thus far.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Barring any setbacks he should be fully recovered in time for spring training and will be a strong candidate to start the season in the WooSox rotation.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The abrupt departure stunned the crowd, prompting confusion both in the audience and among his bandmates.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Teddy’s reasoning is a confusion of save-the-world alarmism, garden-variety derangement, unhealed trauma, and single-minded revenge.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Combine the two in a non-reactive container and stir.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Her Cornish Rex cat, Rabbit, is sprawled out on the floor, unconcerned by the two birds (Chicken and Charlie) chirping from an adjacent office or a colleague’s gray-haired cat next door, who seems to be causing a stir.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That could help with a key goal of the new transit line — persuading people who commute by car to give a more comfortable bus experience a try.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The two-point try was unsuccessful, but at 17-12, the game was within reach if Houston could figure something out on defense.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fan theories have swirled online about Byler, and not just in Schnapp’s comment section, but in discussion forums like Reddit.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Here, much to the amazement of onlookers, sacrificial animals such as bulls would drop dead after breathing in noxious carbon dioxide fumes swirling up from below.—
Barry Neild,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Still, markets will be closely watching the details of the ultimate agreement, after nearly a year of head-spinning changes to trade and tariff policies between the US and China.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The event will feature charrería performances featuring rope tricks by charro Christian Navarrete; a Mexican tin art workshop; spinning and weaving demonstrations; and hands-on activities and games for children.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Students rotate between roles from time to time and clean the whole campus as a team every single day.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
These jets can begin to fan out as the nucleus of the comet rotates.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Well, the speed of disruption is clearly speeding up.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Once Mercury and Mars move into expansive Sagittarius and your curious third house, communication speeds up.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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