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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Avoid diseases by rotating potato crops and growing them in a new spot each year.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
6 Aug. 2025
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In 1979, the National Weather Service and World Meteorological Organization decided to evenly split women’s and men’s names, using six groups of 26 names, rotating annually.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With minimum salaries starting at $66,000, WNBA players generate the bulk of their income through endorsement deals and partnerships that can revolve entirely around online campaigns.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Aug. 2025
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The components of Connecticut’s plan include a revolving loan fund for solar systems, energy storage, and enabling upgrades for multifamily affordable housing through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.—
Jan Ellen Spiegel,
Hartford Courant,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Kernels of reality and anecdote spun into gospel and motif by media and politicians rooting for the failure of cities.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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In January, Perseverance also witnessed a relatively uncommon sight of two dust devils swirling and spinning near one another.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The two were also snapped laughing together and sharing a sweet hug, with Brammall twirling Hathaway around.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Team members twirled and juggled their own handfuls, separated their mass and recombined it; the only thing more impressive than their dexterity was their nonchalance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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