variants
also whirr
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
a whir coming from the refrigerator
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also whirr
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound
the hummingbird whirred as it hovered over a flower our tires whirred as we traveled over the rough road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whir
Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025
Sunday, June 8, 2025 Lake Como, Italy THE PARTY AT THE VILLA
A single chilling wail erupts from the grand ballroom on Palazzo Mella’s ground floor, cutting through the whir of the choppers above.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
The underground club where much of the film takes place, all whirring Vegas-y electronica, could be the single coolest set in cinema.
2.
—Vince Aletti, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
Outside Los Angeles City Hall, the whir of helicopters overhead was drowned out by a cacophony of bullhorns and fiery chanting.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025
Sunday, June 8, 2025 Lake Como, Italy THE PARTY AT THE VILLA
A single chilling wail erupts from the grand ballroom on Palazzo Mella’s ground floor, cutting through the whir of the choppers above.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Verb
In the course of their whirring biochemical activity, cells not only produce energy but also synthesize metabolites: molecular biological building blocks, such as amino acids, nucleotides, carbohydrates and lipids.
—Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
The underground club where much of the film takes place, all whirring Vegas-y electronica, could be the single coolest set in cinema.
2.
—Vince Aletti, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Verb
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Deep balls spiraled aggressively, and flat routes hummed.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Sample the food In the morning, Inti Raymi hums with travelers in hiking gear and sneakers fueling up for a day exploring Cuzco or beyond.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Bugatti/Jacob & Co. Where the Tourbillon V16 engine screams at 9,000 rpm, the Jacob and Co. miniature V16 purrs the seconds away with 16 tiny titanium pistons firing up and down inside a clear sapphire engine block.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
28 Apr. 2025
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Saldana continues, as the kitties all purr in the background.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The days before the storied conclave May 7 at the Vatican are not idle, and an unspoken selection process is already underway amid whispers in corridors and cafes throughout Rome and other cities in Italy.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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There’s been whispers all season that if the Knicks lost in the first round that things wouldn’t be the same next year.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Whether you’re drawn to the story of the Titanic, intrigued by the legacy of The Troubles, or simply want to soak up the buzz of a city rapidly reinventing itself, Belfast delivers one of the most thought-provoking port days in the British Isles.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
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The brand has earned a ton of buzz in the past few years for producing clothes, bags, and other accessories with streamlined looks that are easy to style.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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