CIRCLING Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

circling 1 of 2

adjective

as in swirling

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Dissimilar Words

circling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of circle

as in surrounding

to form a circle around everyone circled the lectern and waited their turn to read from the Bible

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in orbiting

to travel completely around with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit

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 circling

Verb

After reporting that a number of talent agents were circling the AI actress for representation, the story quickly sparked a global debate and firmly put Zurich at the forefront of the conversation. — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026 For now, Hubble is still circling Earth, continuing to turn those seemingly ordinary trips around our planet into extraordinary views of the universe. — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2026 And as independent news sites go belly-up as a result of a lack of traffic, rapacious AI entrepreneurs are circling like buzzards. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026 The ProPublica story revealed that the FBI had been circling the senator, her top aides and a pro-Collins super PAC in recent years, asking questions about their relationship with Navatek. — William Turton, ProPublica, 23 Sep. 2026 Financial supervisors have been circling this without naming it. — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026 An exclusive excerpt published by Decibel centers on Cave In and the period surrounding the band’s breakthrough Jupiter, when major labels began circling. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026 This usually begins with the wasp cautiously circling its target while slowly getting closer. — Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 The category shift the beauty industry has been circling for two years is finally landing below the neck. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for circling

Adjective

Another highlight is the custom leather ceiling in the owner’s suite, which showcases a swirling pattern like a lollipop’s.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026
Set a timer for two to five minutes and write freely, with no structure or polish required, to give swirling thoughts somewhere to land.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of swirling

Verb

The drama will blend mystery and suspense to revisit the events and legends surrounding a case that involved three unsolved murders, which still captivates people.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
The report, from the Center for Digital Thriving, a research and innovation center at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, examines the challenges surrounding generative AI use in schools.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of surrounding

Verb

The capsule failed to meet up with the orbiting lab, however; it got stranded in the wrong orbit after suffering problems with its onboard timing system.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Reliance on SpaceX Currently, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule is the only operational US vehicle capable of carrying astronauts to and from the orbiting outpost.

— Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of orbiting

Adjective

In addition to the campaign, PEOPLE has an exclusive look behind the scenes as Ann Michael and Chang work to create the perfect spiral loaf.

— Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
The second was from 2014, tucked inside a spiral notebook under a couch cushion and consisting of only four pages.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of spiral

Verb

Dumas watched, charmed, his arms encircling his wife’s shoulders, and accepted an ice-cream sundae in a silver parfait cup.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
There are no bleachers, so spectators set up lawn chairs encircling the field.

— Kelenna Onukwugha, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of encircling

Adjective

Libfeld brought a massive, spiraling kudu horn to practice with at a recent Torat Emet shofar class.

— Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Aside from a spiraling Wanda, there was also an onslaught of high-profile cameos, which almost felt like fandom wish fulfillment designed to keep us entertained when Wanda wasn’t around.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of spiraling

Verb

That also means more of the pipeline would be on his property to make up for what is not crossing his neighbors’.

— Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026
And yet crossing the trillion-dollar mark is a remarkable achievement, whether or not AMD continues to straddle the border.

— Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of crossing

Browse Nearby Words

circlets

circling

circuit

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Style

“Circling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circling. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of circling

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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