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
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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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Frequent glenohumeral internal rotation deficit tests, which reveal how far back a player’s shoulder can rotate, are strong indicators of potential arm injuries.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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The force includes contingents from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Oklahoma, with units rotating in and out of the District on staggered timelines.—
Steven Beynon,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley will return as Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery, the respective super-powered actor and ex-terrorist-thespian around which the show revolved.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
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While the Broadway production was presented on a huge, revolving set, this intimate black-box staging will focus on the language and storytelling in the script.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the Illini were trying to build a first-half lead, Stojaković took a pass at the top of the key, drove left, then right, then spun to the basket for a layup and a foul.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
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The recycled cotton and polyester are then extracted in batches and spun back into new denim fabric.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During the silence, a little girl twirled on the tile floor by the stage.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
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Dressed in all white, the trio of musicians performed from the center of the stage while dancers twirled golden flags in time to the song.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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