COIL Synonyms: 126 Similar and Opposite Words

coil 1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯi(-ə)l

Definition of coil

as in disturbance

a state of noisy, confused activity amidst the coil of the office renovations, we even managed to get some work done

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

coil

2 of 2

verb

as in to curl

to follow a circular or spiral course a vine coiling around a pillar

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

straighten

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 coil

Noun

The Inuit victims, many of them teenagers at the time, said they were either fitted with intrauterine contraceptive devices, known as IUDs or coils, or given a hormonal birth control injection. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 During sudden changes in the external magnetic field, the uninsulated coil remained stable and yielded key data on how fast electrical currents adjust inside the winding. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

For example, a gardener may not see a snake coiled among the plants. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 Beach waves run the gamut from tight and coiled to long and easy, all depending on your hair type. — Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for coil

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coil

Noun

The smallest robot was the most agile of the three, and the largest one was the best at maintaining its trajectory when faced with disturbances meant to throw it off course.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
On Thursday a tropical disturbance managed to overcome headwinds to become a tropical storm.

— Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturbance

Verb

Women figured prominently in many of Mansour’s works, such as the 1984 Flight to Egypt, depicting a mother curled over her sleeping baby.

— News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026
For our recipe, the Test Kitchen poached just-cooked oysters in milk until their edges began to curl.

— Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of curl

Noun

Among them was a Washington think tank that caused a stir with a paper that proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 to shore up the retirement trust fund.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Just over 100 years later, Genesis executives posted up at the same historic place aiming to once again cause a stir.

— Marco Della Cava, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of stir

Verb

For Fernández, now Miss Montana, the road to success has been winding.

— Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Three Fall Must-Dos Cruise one of the most underrated fall drives in the US—the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, encompassing winding Needles Highway in Custer State Park and Iron Mountain Road, famous for its 300-plus hairpin turns.

— Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of wind

Noun

The Canadian singer caused a commotion with her ensemble, showing off a head-to-toe Alaïa ensemble from the upcoming Archetypes spring 2027 collection.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Aug. 2026
There was no illness or injury, Krauss said, but the dog seemed ready to step away from the crowds and commotion.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of commotion

Verb

But plenty of long-range computer models continue to show a future for the system, most as a tropical storm headed west toward the Caribbean, although plenty also show a potential track that curves north of Puerto Rico.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Several other curved, slender bones were soon found nearby, according to pictures shared with the station.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of curve

Noun

In hurry-and-scurry mode, Katalyst built a robotic spacecraft called LINK, which launched on July 3 to meet up with Swift and haul it to a higher orbit.

— Leonard David, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
No matter your hurry, overloading your washing machine will produce a headache of a different sort (and might even cost you more money).

— Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurry

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“Coil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coil. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of coil

noun

verb

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