as in splashing
to flow in a broken irregular stream
the tiny stream gurgled down the rocky slope and joined the larger river at the bottom of the hill
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Recent Examples of gurgling
Adding a fish pond with koi, a gurgling fountain, or even a wind chime can further play into the sense of sound.
—
Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
Roaring Fork Falls, Setrock Creek Falls, and Big Creek Falls are all within easy reach, with short hikes that follow gurgling streams to cool, shaded falls.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
In practice, this means a madhouse of multimedia rooms, packed with gurgling videos and useless machines and humanoid bodies.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
When the first hook comes back around after Earl’s slinky verse, Niontay’s staccato punchlines lose all shape and melt into a putty of wordless, gurgling melody.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
Her baby sister gurgling helplessly in the background isn’t the only one utterly dependent on her maternal care.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
From the cozy-chic bar and its expansive patio to the rocking chairs facing a semi-secret, open-air fireplace snuggled next to a gurgling waterfall, serenity permeates the property.
—Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Between gurgling cello and moody brass, the orchestra reached cacophony.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
From the mud baths of Lo Specchio di Venere to Bagno Ascuitto’s hot-steam grotto, Pantelleria’s fringes constitute a natural spa with gurgling thermal waters.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
Roaring Fork Falls, Setrock Creek Falls, and Big Creek Falls are all within easy reach, with short hikes that follow gurgling streams to cool, shaded falls.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
In practice, this means a madhouse of multimedia rooms, packed with gurgling videos and useless machines and humanoid bodies.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
When the first hook comes back around after Earl’s slinky verse, Niontay’s staccato punchlines lose all shape and melt into a putty of wordless, gurgling melody.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
Her baby sister gurgling helplessly in the background isn’t the only one utterly dependent on her maternal care.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
From the cozy-chic bar and its expansive patio to the rocking chairs facing a semi-secret, open-air fireplace snuggled next to a gurgling waterfall, serenity permeates the property.
—Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Between gurgling cello and moody brass, the orchestra reached cacophony.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
From the mud baths of Lo Specchio di Venere to Bagno Ascuitto’s hot-steam grotto, Pantelleria’s fringes constitute a natural spa with gurgling thermal waters.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gurgling
Verb
-
The sink is prone to splashing and will wash any oil and vinegar residue away in no time.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Don’t sleep on this two-pack of hummingbird feeders, which can hold up to 16 ounces of hummingbird feed each, or this popular bird bath that birds love splashing around in.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An outsider romance peppered with gallows humor and bubbling over with giddy optimism, Harold and Maude is a life-affirming, weirdly wonderful film about a rich kid with a death wish and his love affair with an exuberant 79-year-old woman.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The road was reportedly bubbling just before the sinkhole opened up, neighbors say.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Still washing dishes in the bathtub.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
-
An employee was washing their hands with gloves on.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
April 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That, of course, and the occasional ghostly presences, unsettling cries, and blood dripping from the ceiling.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Blown out, extravagant, dripping with ferocious malaise and desperation, but precisely arranged for the maximum possible emotional effect.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The effects are rippling across Capitol Hill, teeing up a fight that could directly impact the makeup of the House heading into the midterm elections.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Diesel and jet fuel prices have also soared in recent days, with supply shortages rippling across Asia.—
Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The cost is trickling down to consumers as well.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Several of his employees manned the shop, who outnumbered the customers trickling in.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gurgling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gurgling. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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