as in swirling
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in surrounding
to form a circle around
everyone circled the lectern and waited their turn to read from the Bible
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in orbiting
to travel completely around
with a look of extreme frustration, the commander circled the new recruit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circling
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
As soon as Robinson snapped the blade in, Khusnutdinov jumped onto the ice and joined the weave in the offensive zone, dropping the puck for the circling Pastrnak, who then executed the pretty give-and-go with McAvoy for the winner.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
The scene is loud and tightly packed, but peaceful, as demonstrators continue to arrive, with a helicopter and drones circling overhead.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
The director’s onscreen role is to be the ultimate swing vote, constantly circling a position before another informed voice brings him back to neutrality and the inquiry starts all over again.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
During the news conference, Joseph was asked about the suspect’s possible tactical experience, given how Husien was seen charging at and circling the wounded sergeant.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
People circling for shopping carts and parking spots.
—Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Prediction pieces and odds-style articles are circling a familiar cluster of returns, cross-promotion surprises, and NXT call-ups as the most realistic shock entrants.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Vartolomei is also circling an as-yet-untitled Romanian project, currently in final negotiations and eyeing a late 2026 shoot.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
The investigation revealed the controller, distracted by a third plane circling the airport, delayed clearing the SkyWest flight for takeoff and failed to monitor the runway and airspace adequately.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
As soon as Robinson snapped the blade in, Khusnutdinov jumped onto the ice and joined the weave in the offensive zone, dropping the puck for the circling Pastrnak, who then executed the pretty give-and-go with McAvoy for the winner.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
The scene is loud and tightly packed, but peaceful, as demonstrators continue to arrive, with a helicopter and drones circling overhead.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
The director’s onscreen role is to be the ultimate swing vote, constantly circling a position before another informed voice brings him back to neutrality and the inquiry starts all over again.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
During the news conference, Joseph was asked about the suspect’s possible tactical experience, given how Husien was seen charging at and circling the wounded sergeant.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
People circling for shopping carts and parking spots.
—Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Prediction pieces and odds-style articles are circling a familiar cluster of returns, cross-promotion surprises, and NXT call-ups as the most realistic shock entrants.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Vartolomei is also circling an as-yet-untitled Romanian project, currently in final negotiations and eyeing a late 2026 shoot.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circling
Adjective
-
In October, Mountbatten-Windsor was ordered to leave the sprawling 30-room Royal Lodge in the heart of the Crown’s Windsor Estate, just outside of London, after his brother King Charles III cast him out of the monarchy over the swirling Jeffrey Epstein scandal.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Kelsea Ballerini channeled Old Hollywood glamour in a form-fitting halter gown drenched in intricate metallic beadwork in shades of gold, bronze, and olive, arranged in swirling, paisley-like patterns with fringe detailing cascading from the skirt and train.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Members must live or attend school in central San Diego or the surrounding area.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The victim has not yet been identified and detectives did not share details on the circumstances surrounding the man's death.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This does not prevent the sports-media ecosystem from orbiting around prediction-making, an obsession that has only ballooned in the age of legal sports betting.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
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While most satellite internet services operate from single geostationary satellites orbiting Earth at about 22,236 miles, Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that operate from a low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Anya wrote this down in a spiral notebook, in her particular spiked cursive.—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Their misadventures spiral into odd, escalating situations that would play better with sharper writing or more adventurous direction.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The original Imperial Hotel, an icon of the encircling Ginza neighborhood, was constructed in 1923 by Frank Lloyd Wright.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
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The silhouette also included a slender strap encircling the ankle.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Over the coming years, a team of 57 scientists and local guides explored all the major rivers and tributaries of the Okavango Delta, traversing this vast landscape in dugout canoes, on motorbikes, on foot, and in armored vehicles.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
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What consumers need is someone and something focused on the actual experience of traversing the fractured content universe.—
Howard Homonoff,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Violent confrontations targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota are being driven by outside actors exploiting chaos, not organic protest, according to a protest insider warning that the situation is rapidly spiraling.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Demonstrations broke out over the near-collapse of the rial and spiraling economic conditions but grew to become a larger movement against the regime.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Gold extended its relentless rally on Thursday, crossing past $5,500 per ounce and hitting another record high.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
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Plan Ahead Since his first trip to Europe without his parents in 1973, travel guru Rick Steves has become an expert in crossing multiple time zones.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circling. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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