BURR Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

burr 1 of 2

noun

ˈbər

Definition of burr

as in hum

a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion heard the burr of a distant engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

burr

2 of 2

verb

as in to hum

to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the pitch burred past the batter's ear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of burr

Noun

Burr grinders crush coffee beans evenly between two steel or ceramic burrs. — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 May 2026 Naturalists note the golf course’s rolling hills host burr trees, cross country skiing trails, coyote paths and other scenic draws. — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 16 May 2026 Their bestselling models use stainless steel blades, but Krups does offer burr grinders, too. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 His tone had a burr of excitement that didn’t match the words. — Josh Owens, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burr

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burr

Noun

Indeed, the team behind this research believes this hum of spacetime ripples could help explain how supermassive black holes grew so rapidly before the universe was even a billion years old.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The noise in Granbury, Texas, that started as a hum in the summer of 2023 had by January begun to disturb her at all hours.

— Tavleen Tarrant, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of hum

Verb

Summary Tonight, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is buzzing for the WBA welterweight title clash between Rolly Romero and Teofimo Lopez.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Smith’s chemistry with Mitchell has been buzzing since the spring, but his connection with the Jets’ top receiver has been building all summer.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of buzz

Noun

Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
In the mid-1970s, Slash’s mother, the costume designer Ola Hudson, worked on the American production of The Rocky Horror Show, whose Frank-N-Furter is the unmistakable touchstone of Bourzgui’s David, down to the depraved purr.

— Sarah Grant, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of purr

Verb

Across the city yesterday morning, yellow school buses zipped through streets.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Facing second-and-4 in the second quarter, Browning took a shotgun snap, and Anudike-Uzomah was there in an instant, zipping by Tampa Bay third-string tackle Marshall Fournier for a free shot on Browning.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of zip

Noun

Moves for Anan Khalaili and Zavier Gozo are being finalised, and with both able to play right wing-back, there are whispers Daniel Munoz may be sold.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
That is, the ability to provide the benefits of modern speech interfaces without the need for users to speak audibly, even at a whisper.

— Greg Uyeno, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of whisper

Browse Nearby Words

burps

burr

burred

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Style

“Burr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burr. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of burr

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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