as in helicopter
a vehicle for traveling through the air that obtains its lift from rotors which spin horizontally
from the sky a police whirlybird was able to track the fleeing carjacker
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of whirlybird
The sleek, dark-green whirlybird, with its luxe leather interior, sat in front of Airbus’s static display at the National Business Aviation Association’s BACE conference in Orlando.
—
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2022
The result is a whirlybird that’s quieter than usual, but also potentially safer.
—Rob Verger and Charlie Wood, Popular Science, 2 Dec. 2020
Mars’ atmosphere is thin, so the extraterrestrial whirlybird needed some special modifications to achieve lift.
—Hailey Rose McLaughlin, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2019
At its factory in Cambodia, Outland Denim uses a method of heat extraction involving breezeways and a roof ventilation device known as a whirlybird.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2022
The result is a whirlybird that’s quieter than usual, but also potentially safer.
—Rob Verger and Charlie Wood, Popular Science, 2 Dec. 2020
Mars’ atmosphere is thin, so the extraterrestrial whirlybird needed some special modifications to achieve lift.
—Hailey Rose McLaughlin, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2019
At its factory in Cambodia, Outland Denim uses a method of heat extraction involving breezeways and a roof ventilation device known as a whirlybird.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirlybird
Noun
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Temporary flight restrictions are active in the area, barring drones and other aircraft from interfering with the helicopters.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
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Some search and rescue efforts involved helicopters rescuing people off the roofs of houses as they were surrounded by several feet of flooding, images that are reminiscent to rescues conducted during Hurricane Katrina, said US Coast Guard Capt.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Mealhelper 12-in-1 Vegetable Chopper, $13 with Prime This manual vegetable chopper is another kitchen gadget with a Kardashian stamp of approval.—
Kyra Surgent,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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While Black Ops 6 toyed with a more grounded, back-to-the-basics approach of UAVs, airstrikes, and attack choppers as scorestreak rewards for tallying enough points or kills, the speculative fiction framework of BLOPS 7 means everything requires a heightened tone.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whirlybird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirlybird. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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