as in purrs
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
heard the burr of a distant engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hums
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 burrs
Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2025
This depends on your specific manual coffee grinder, but if your grinder uses ceramic burrs, it’s meant for coffee beans only.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
The fabric sheds burrs, dries quickly and wicks away moisture.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2025
This depends on your specific manual coffee grinder, but if your grinder uses ceramic burrs, it’s meant for coffee beans only.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burrs
Noun
-
But the other people who live nearby may not be so easily swayed by those adorable puppy dog eyes or precious purrs and might get very irritated.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But locals embrace the town’s remoteness, enjoying the alpine trails that begin right off Main Street, the legendary ski terrain, and a downtown that hums with old mining town charm.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Oct. 2025
-
For example, from the front porch of a nearby house, wind turbines don't typically sound louder than a household refrigerator, which hums at around 55 dBA.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
About halfway through our interview, Uchis’ phone buzzes.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The yawning gap between data-center expenditures and the rest of the economy has caused whispers of bubble to rise to a chorus.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
-
There was affairs and divorces and whispers and gossip, all the stuff that makes good bands break up.—
Alan Light,
Rolling Stone,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burrs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burrs. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share