as in to rotate
to move in circles around an axis or center
the kayaker had got sucked into the whirlpool, and his kayak was pinwheeling helplessly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pinwheel
Some of the outer rain bands and a few storms from Beta will pinwheel into the area from the east and southeast.
—
Dallas News, 20 Sep. 2020
Observations of pinwheeling galaxies suggested that scaffolds of invisible matter held their stars together, while a repulsive form of energy drove galaxies apart.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2020
The man in the white vest pinwheeled his arms, ushering volunteers through the pick-up line outside the Salvation Army Community Center on Fourth Street with military precision.
—Lizzie Johnson, SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019
According to the space agency, IC 2051 is a spiral galaxy, noticeable in its whirling, pinwheeling arms and a bar of stars cutting through its center.
—Fox News, 23 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pinwheel
Dallas News, 20 Sep. 2020
Observations of pinwheeling galaxies suggested that scaffolds of invisible matter held their stars together, while a repulsive form of energy drove galaxies apart.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2020
The man in the white vest pinwheeled his arms, ushering volunteers through the pick-up line outside the Salvation Army Community Center on Fourth Street with military precision.
—Lizzie Johnson, SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019
According to the space agency, IC 2051 is a spiral galaxy, noticeable in its whirling, pinwheeling arms and a bar of stars cutting through its center.
—Fox News, 23 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pinwheel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinwheel
Verb
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Tracks haven’t rotated in and out of the calendar since Hockenheim and the Nurburgring shared hosting duties for the German Grand Prix between 2008 and 2014.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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Bake for 30 minutes, then turn the heat to 375°F, rotate the pie, and continue baking until the filling is bubbling and the crust is deep golden brown, about 45 minutes more.—
Ellen Gray,
Saveur,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Garcia pointed out the movie will have an uplifting dimension, revolving on the strong bond between a mother and her son.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 May 2025
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Too many individuals think the world revolves only around them.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There are plenty of reasons to believe Milwaukee wouldn’t go for such an offer: Butler doesn’t exactly fit a rebuild timeline (and an unhappy Butler has made waves before), and spinning his sizable contract off to another team would likely prove difficult.—
Michael Nowels,
Mercury News,
13 May 2025
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In a video posted by PBR, That Mexican OT spun away from a charging bull on two occasions, just barely escaping its horns.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2025
Verb
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The actress looked stunning on the red carpet, twirling in the floor-length dress, which featured a corset-style bodice with geometric cutouts and a whimsical skirt with an attached train.—
Robyn Merrett,
StyleCaster,
29 Apr. 2025
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The off-the-shoulder, sleeveless top feels amazing in the sun, and the roomy high-low skirt is perfect for twirling—no matter your age.—
Robin Raven,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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