curling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of curlingnext
as in curved
marked by a long series of irregular curves a curling labyrinth designed to discourage grave robbers from ever finding the inner burial chamber

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

curling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of curl
as in coiling
to follow a circular or spiral course an inviting path for joggers curls around the reservoir

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 curling
Adjective
Dyson’s 2018 debut, the Airwrap, was a hair tool like no other—curling, smoothing, drying, and detangling without direct heat. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 July 2026 Today brings preliminary matches for women’s ice hockey, qualification runs for men’s big-air snowboarding, and, of course, more curling, which is the only sport industrious enough to have events every day through the Olympics. — The Editors, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
King tends to diminish herself physically, curling her shoulders in a dramatic hunch. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 Minimize Heat Exposure To protect against heat damage, Walker-Rodgers suggests always using a heat protectant spray or cream before blowing out, curling, or straightening your hair. — Sarah Madaus, InStyle, 30 Aug. 2026 Five minutes later, Messi gave Miami the lead, curling his shot in tight space past three defenders, quieting the sellout crowd at Subaru Park. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 Beyond its championship golf courses, guests can play tennis and pickleball, take a hot yoga class, go cross-country skiing, or even try curling. — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026 Deyna Castellanos gave Portland the lead in the 58th minute with a curling shot from a tight angle. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 Sydney Collins had floated a curling pass to Lema, who had come on as a substitute minutes earlier. — Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026 Above all, frankincense stands out as the star note, curling around aromatic baking spices. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026 Sometimes acting opposite Johnny Depp can be a feet-curling experience. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curling
  1. curved
  2. coiling
  3. winding
  4. curving
  5. twisted
  6. serpentine
  7. curled
Adjective
  • The curved trees were then placed on a horizontal rotating platform inside a sphere lit up from every direction.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The tight cropping in the monochrome nudes isolates slopes, folds, shadowed recesses and curved planes that hover between landscape and abstraction.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of curved
Verb
  • Joe Kramm | Courtesy of Francis Interiors The gold background is a spread of bold graphic lines, undulating shapes and coiling circular motifs, referencing the work of French artist, sculptor and designer Jean Dunand (1877–1942).
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Receiving a ball punched out of Tunisia’s area, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder took one touch to knock it into space, before coiling his diminutive frame behind a fierce shot that fizzed and curled into the net.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 15 June 2026
Definition of coiling
Adjective
  • Every floor and room is dedicated to specific watch brands and timepieces, featuring bespoke details like watch-hand door handles and winding-crown faucet handles, all crafted by Florentine artisans.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As such, the show takes you on a winding journey of France’s influential craftsmanship and its impact on America via archival looks, dazzling objects, and more modern creations.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 29 May 2026
Definition of winding
Verb
  • Here, nothing comparable to a ball is physically curving through space.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Its flowing, inward-curving shape wraps around a 30-foot central tower, forming a space where people can come together to reflect, remember, and gather.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of curving
Adjective
  • What happens next are the most dramatic and twisted moments of his life, as these mysterious events bring Sam face-to-face with his younger self.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Homes and businesses left intact after the flooding were still without electricity on Sunday, as twisted power line poles and wires lay tangled in the mud.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of twisted
Adjective
  • Peter Zumthor’s design hoists a serpentine platform atop pavilions that read like stout, truncated legs, making the edifice almost creaturely in its architectural stance.
    — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The larvae feed on the tree through winter, carving serpentine tunnels that ultimately interfere with the tree’s ability to feed itself.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of serpentine
Adjective
  • While attending the Hollywood icon’s 100th birthday celebration in Los Angeles, Jones rocked a curled bob, swept to one side.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Look in curled leaves that often contain webs with the larva stages — often called worms.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Definition of curled

Browse Nearby Words

curlicuing
curling
curling up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curling. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on curling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curling

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