curlicue 1 of 2

noun

variants also curlycue
Definition of curlicuenext
as in coil

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curlicue

2 of 2

verb

as in to loop

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Dissimilar Words

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 curlicue
Noun
The walls are decked out with perceptive studies of the Mustang landscape by the American painter Robert Powell, a frequent visitor to the region, and by drapes and banners referencing the colorful cloud curlicues of Thangka scrolls. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026 So is an untitled stack of rugged bricks with a chunk of concrete suspended from a metal curlicue. — Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
Outside, winding paths through gardens and woods lead to site-specific installations, like Eleven Minute Line, a land-art piece by Maya Lin that curlicues through a field of cows. — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for curlicue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curlicue
  1. coil
  2. loop
  3. curl
  4. spiral
  5. swirl
  6. curve
  7. twist
  8. circle
Noun
  • Now, researchers studying Japanese land snails have identified a gene that helps determine whether their shells coil clockwise or counterclockwise, offering new clues into how animals develop their left and right sides.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike quiches, frittatas are crustless, but this version doesn’t skimp on satisfying carbs, thanks to coils of spaghetti that become crisp and caramelized on the edges and soft and fluffy in the eggy center.
    — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of coil
Verb
  • These chic open-toe sandals have thin spaghetti-style straps that loop around the ankle and lower foot.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Hopefully, Cruise would have the confidence to loop back to taking risks.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of loop
Noun
  • That specific stylist taught her a few techniques to style her hair, including using a dime-sized amount of gel with a quarter-sized amount of leave-in and running it through her curls.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than slicking the head in hair gel, Magallones purposefully keeps the product use to a minimum, allowing for natural curls to come through on top of the head.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • The government’s counterinsurgency spiraled into widespread violence in which hundreds of civilians — most of them Alawites — were killed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Emotions ran high at a Miami-Dade LA Fitness gym Wednesday, then turned violent when an argument over weights spiraled into a man being beaten with a dumbbell and chased around the facility, deputies say.
    — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of spiral
Noun
  • This was the moment when the swirl of a movie started forming around me.
    — Kim Jackson, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Shares of Kontoor have fallen roughly 15% over the past year as concerns over sustained demand for specialty retailers' products swirl.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of swirl
Verb
  • Animators studied ostriches before feeding their digital movement curves into a six-axis mechanical rig carrying the performers.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The tangle of stubby points stood out like overgrown thumbs, and the down-curving prongs on either side of his head were at least a foot long.
    — Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of curve
Noun
  • While the collection draws inspiration from the brand’s past, elements have been retooled for a modern twist.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than doing a literal adaptation, the creators kept the book’s DNA and tweaked the ideas of evil, temptation and power with a contemporary twist.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of twist
Verb
  • Over the past 100,000 years, Halley's Comet has probably circled the sun well over a thousand times, leaving a fresh trail of debris on every visit.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Democrats have circled Alaska, a typically reliable Republican state, as a winnable seat in their bid to flip the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
    — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of circle

Browse Nearby Words

curled up
curlicue
curlicued
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curlicue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curlicue. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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