whirling 1 of 2

as in giddy
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down still whirling from the amusement park ride, I needed to sit down

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whirling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of whirl
1
as in swirling
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly whirled the chocolate syrup into the milk with a spoon

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2
as in twirling
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis the figure skater whirled his partner with effortless grace

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3
4
5
as in spinning
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around my mind whirled from all of the excitement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whirling
Verb
Perhaps more than any other individual in the whirling sphere of fashion, Margareta van den Bosch catapulted high-low dressing. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 Here, the tarantella is by turns gleeful and demonic — a frantic dance of the doomed, whirling through a mist of contemporary clangor. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 But then Freeland induced Logan O' Hoppe to hit a grounder to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, but Tovar's throw to second was low, forcing Ritter to make a difficult catch at the bag and make a whirling throw to first. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025 The Helix has taken more than 1,000 piloted flights this year, and its maker has trained 200 people to fly this unique aircraft with eight electrified rotors whirling on a pair of detachable wings. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Sep. 2025 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 On and on the section goes, a whirling fifty-page stretch of disorientation and disintegration. Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Astronomers using the powerful eye of the James Webb Space Telescope have spotted a previously unknown moon whirling around Uranus, according to NASA. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirling
Adjective
  • The day the album launched, 50 Cent reacted to the reference with a post on Instagram, giddy about being the only artist that got a shoutout on the entire ablum.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Apple’s stock is giddier than an 11-year-old who just strong-armed their parents into buying them a smartphone.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some have likened the controversy surrounding Savin's display of old-time mobsters to the debate swirling around old statues of Confederate generals.
    Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
  • There's plenty of headlines swirling before Game 1 begins Friday at Rogers Centre.
    Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Other photos showed just the mom and her daughter twirling together alone.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Up-and-comer status gifted el Khaleel’s group, Mantronix, with the glory of a four-hundred-dollar gig at the rec center, home to youth basketball games, baton-twirling competitions, after-school child care, and — on occasion — community concerts.
    Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The menu will include around five core cocktails from Rzepka's original recipes, as well as five rotating cocktails that will swap out with the seasons.
    Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The only hitch was the two-handed pinch-and-hold gesture for rotating some objects.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Air Force is repeatedly flying heavy bombers near the Venezuelan coast as a show of force, too.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Over the years, he's developed a reputation for flying vintage airplanes, even after suffering a near-death plane crash that left his right ankle and pelvis shattered and his back broken in March 2015.
    Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By comparison, Seoul Station tells us more about how the zombie virus began while also spinning a tight, impactful story centered on three compelling characters.
    Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The trailer tees up his infatuation rom-com style before spinning into explosive action.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Symptoms can include vomiting more than three times a day, feeling constantly dizzy and lightheaded and losing weight.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Traditionally, Sean Payton’s teams deploy a revolving personnel carousel that can leave opposing defensive coordinators dizzy.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high, stirring occasionally.
    Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Keep your hips steady, and make small circles to the right with your forearms as if stirring a pot.
    Mallory Creveling, Health, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirling. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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