whirlwind

¹whirl·wind

noun \-ˌwind\

Definition of WHIRLWIND

1

: a small rotating windstorm of limited extent

2

a : a confused rush : whirl <a whirlwind of meetings>

b : a violent or destructive force or agency

Examples of WHIRLWIND

1. My life has been a whirlwind lately.
2. He attended a whirlwind of meetings.

First Known Use of WHIRLWIND

14th century

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

Rhymes with WHIRLWIND

break wind, buckskinned, crosswind, downwind, exscind, headwind, prescind, rescind, tailwind, thick-skinned, thin-skinned, upwind, woodwind

²whirlwind

adjective

Definition of WHIRLWIND

: resembling a whirlwind especially in speed or force <a whirlwind campaign> <a whirlwind romance>

Examples of WHIRLWIND

1. The band went on a whirlwind concert tour.
2. They were married after a whirlwind romance.
3. We continued on at a whirlwind pace.

First Known Use of WHIRLWIND

1614

Related to WHIRLWIND

Synonyms

blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, fast, zippy

Antonyms

slow

Related Words

expeditious, prompt, ready; accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed; breathtaking; energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous; high-speed; rush; ultrafast, ultrarapid

Near Antonyms

crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky (or pokey), slowish, sluggish, unhurried; deliberate, leisurely, measured; dilatory, late, tardy; ultraslow