curls 1 of 2

Definition of curlsnext
plural of curl
as in ringlets
a length of hair that forms a loop or series of loops let her hair grow in its natural curls

Synonyms & Similar Words

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curls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of curl

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 curls
Noun
There are no costume changes, just a jersey-and-shorts combo that wouldn’t look out of place at a backyard barbecue and loose curls that Eilish styles each night herself. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2026 Below are the ones that deliver on moisture, slip, and softness without weighing curls down. Aimee Simeon, Glamour, 7 May 2026 From kiss curls to diamond tears, Rihanna attended this year's Met Gala in a beauty look worth its weight in gold. Essence, 5 May 2026 Create the slick front with a pomade to keep hair smooth and prevent fly-aways, and pull curls into a simple low pony. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 May 2026 Mira began absent-mindedly rolling and unrolling a fine-tooth comb through her curls. Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curls
Noun
  • Per photos shared by TMZ, the hair chameleon ditched her signature natural waves for the night out, instead styling her honey blonde lob in tight yet voluminous ringlets.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Chopped with face-framing curtain bangs and curled into small (almost Shirley Temple-sized) ringlets, the singer’s hair is clearly a reference to her look from the song’s energetic music video.
    Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Dry all surfaces completely and replace knobs, drip pans, and coils back on the stove.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Financially dependent on her parents throughout her youth and confused by waves of calm or small kindnesses, Gross wrestled with distancing herself for some time before cutting contact with her parents and brothers as an adult.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The lapping waves that arrive shortly thereafter are an alarming detour, but their presence quickly feels normal.
    Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Many travelers opt to take a four-wheeler down the Sand Highway, a one-way trail into a canyon on the boundary of the dunes, or on the South Boundary Trail, which winds along the eastern side of the main dune area.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The rooms With curvaceous walls, built in fast-growing Indonesian bamboo, split-level villas with a spiral staircase that winds seashell-like between a ground-floor lounge and upstairs living quarters have the grounding feel of being wrapped in a tropical bamboo forest.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This updo can handle the thickest and longest of locks, which is not an easy feat.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
  • The popular summertime formula works on all hair types and leaves locks smooth, soft and easy to brush.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Designed by renowned architect Peter Zumthor, the sculptural design is a 900-foot-long, horizontal, glass and concrete structure that curves and stretches along Hancock Park and across Wilshire Boulevard.
    Julie Sharp, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • In another panel, a man and child walk away from the town along a railroad track that curves up and to the left, and then disappears.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Curls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curls. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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