1
as in disseminating
to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people
circulate the plans for the new stadium around town to get people's reaction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whispering
to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy
circulated a rumor that someone was about to be fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in spreading
to become known
the prince denies the story about an extramarital affair that's been circulating in the tabloids
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 circulating
Two videos soon began circulating on social media showing a contestant, Vasana Montgomery, appearing to say the N-word on camera — once while singing a song and another time while yelling at an arcade game.
—
Angela Yang, NBC news, 31 May 2026
Soon after, speculation around a project called Benito Antonio, his birth name, began circulating across fashion and entertainment media.
—Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Montgomery is shown using the n-word in two different videos currently circulating online.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 30 May 2026
Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
Originally designed as a racing shoe, the Speedcat has been circulating again thanks to fashion’s ongoing obsession with slim, low-profile footwear.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 29 May 2026
Buzz about Halverson’s potential football career was circulating back in Fridley, too.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 28 May 2026
The lawsuit also alleges the school officials failed to prevent the male student from circulating the video to others.
—Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026
The attack happened in an area where security forces are usually stationed, badly damaging nearby buildings and smashing more than a dozen vehicles parked along the road, according to witnesses and images circulating on social media.
—Abdul Sattar, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Angela Yang, NBC news, 31 May 2026
Soon after, speculation around a project called Benito Antonio, his birth name, began circulating across fashion and entertainment media.
—Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Montgomery is shown using the n-word in two different videos currently circulating online.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 30 May 2026
Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
Originally designed as a racing shoe, the Speedcat has been circulating again thanks to fashion’s ongoing obsession with slim, low-profile footwear.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 29 May 2026
Buzz about Halverson’s potential football career was circulating back in Fridley, too.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 28 May 2026
The lawsuit also alleges the school officials failed to prevent the male student from circulating the video to others.
—Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026
The attack happened in an area where security forces are usually stationed, badly damaging nearby buildings and smashing more than a dozen vehicles parked along the road, according to witnesses and images circulating on social media.
—Abdul Sattar, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circulating
Verb
-
Apkarian found that the ads, which have been on the airwaves for more than 20 years, violated California’s false advertising law by disseminating public statements about the disposal of property — specifically vehicle donations — that were misleading by omission.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
-
Hamas was filming the crimes as they were being committed and disseminating footage online.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Francis and Pierre start whispering behind closed doors to one another at night, plotting whether or not to flee for a neutral country.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
-
Then, after nearly a decade as a partner, that voice stopped whispering and started roaring.—
Suzanne Roske,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Speaking of spreading the floor, Wembanyama has 20 more 3-point field goals at the end of his third season than all-time NBA 3-point leader Stephen Curry.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
When someone dies of Ebola, their body continues to be highly contagious for seven or so days, with the virus spreading through bodily fluids.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Also known as asexual reproduction, propagating fruits and vegetables allows gardeners to bypass difficult seed germination.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
31 May 2026
-
Not simply a catalog of assets, but an event-aware system capable of understanding relationships, propagating policy, detecting drift, tracing downstream impact, enforcing governance rules and providing runtime context to both humans and machines.—
Emma McGrattan,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Advertisement If a good finale ties up a show’s plot and answers crucial questions, then a great one completes character arcs and deepens themes developed across multiple seasons, revealing the intricacy of narrative architecture too subtle to perceive from one week to the next.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
Rumors and proposals are starting to percolate, revealing the steep incline the Nuggets face to remain a championship contender.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
But satellite images reviewed by CNN show how Iran has used simple equipment such as bulldozers and dump trucks to counter those costly campaigns — suggesting that Tehran’s missile capabilities can’t be destroyed just by targeting tunnel entrances, experts said.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
The psychological thriller has obliterated projections, with early tracking suggesting a $40 million to $50 million domestic debut.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
However, there are occasional visual flourishes, like the beginning and end of each stage resembling sketches, and the backgrounds featuring light pencil lines and watercolor effects, hinting that the game takes place in a storybook.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
19 May 2026
-
Ollie Watkins scored four goals in those games, hinting that the England international will continue his strong form by finding the back of the net in Istanbul, too.—
Graham Ruthven,
New York Times,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circulating. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
