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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But internal controls, like segregation of duties, dual approvals or rotating high-risk job functions, don’t signal distrust.—
Toby Braun,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Flay was among the rotating celebrity chefs who competed with Burrell, appearing in four seasons.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
19 June 2025
Verb
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The central theme of Season 2 revolves tightly around how well Sauron can narcissistically charm his way into the hearts of those around him, until, like a frog in a slow-boiling pot, the objects of his desires realize they’ve been manipulated the entire time.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
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In a sport that revolves so much around India, Australia and England, it’s been a breath of fresh air that South Africa made a barnstorming run to the final.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Teddy Roosevelt would've been spinning in his grave.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
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The crass charmer Loretta (Judith Miller) is spit-shining her establishment, known for its knick-knacks alongside an Orange Crush machine that spins the sugary libation.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Infantino, then 24, got into his car with some friends and drove around town, beeping their horns, twirling their flags and singing songs in celebration.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
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This doesn’t mean that the private sector is full of villains twirling their overgrown mustaches.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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