as in to rotate
to move in circles around an axis or center
the kayaker had got sucked into the whirlpool, and his kayak was pinwheeling helplessly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pinwheel
Forecasters warned of the arrival Thursday into Friday of a second intensifying low pressure area, which will pinwheel around the first bomb cyclone in an atmospheric interaction known as the Fujiwara Effect.
—
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
Some of the outer rain bands and a few storms from Beta will pinwheel into the area from the east and southeast.
—Dallas News, 20 Sep. 2020
The man in the white vest pinwheeled his arms, ushering volunteers through the pick-up line outside the Salvation Army Community Center on Fourth Street with military precision.
—Lizzie Johnson, SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019
According to the space agency, IC 2051 is a spiral galaxy, noticeable in its whirling, pinwheeling arms and a bar of stars cutting through its center.
—Fox News, 23 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pinwheel
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
Some of the outer rain bands and a few storms from Beta will pinwheel into the area from the east and southeast.
—Dallas News, 20 Sep. 2020
The man in the white vest pinwheeled his arms, ushering volunteers through the pick-up line outside the Salvation Army Community Center on Fourth Street with military precision.
—Lizzie Johnson, SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019
According to the space agency, IC 2051 is a spiral galaxy, noticeable in its whirling, pinwheeling arms and a bar of stars cutting through its center.
—Fox News, 23 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pinwheel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinwheel
Verb
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The Patriots have Williams, Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer and Cory Durden to rotate in the middle of the defense.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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Slice the dough as directed, rotating the roll frequently to avoid creating a flat side.—
Jessica Saari Christensen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The county, where per-capita personal income levels are nearly 40% higher than the national median, is also seen as a pioneer for its financing model, which created a revolving loan fund to replace private sources of equity and keep the units owned by the public.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
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Beyond supernatural encounters, the Beaux-Arts hotel is also a glittering grande dame of the French Quarter, with a revolving carousel bar, pristine marble floors, and a wooden grandfather clock that’s chimed in the lobby since 1909.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Max spins Schadenfreude circles around Christian before towing him back to the boat with another Jet Ski.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
21 Oct. 2025
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The material is washed, processed locally into balls, flakes and/or pellets that meet European industrial standards, and then spun into a high-grade thread, without blending with virgin plastic or chemical additives.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the years, the company artists have danced on the grass in the museum’s sculpture court or glided and twirled in the natural light that streams from gallery windows.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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