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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pinwheel
Forecasters warned of the arrival Thursday into Friday of a second intensifying low pressure area, which will pinwheel around the first bomb cyclone in an atmospheric interaction known as the Fujiwara Effect.
—
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
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
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
Andrew Freedman, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
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
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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Like any other rotating 2-in-1, the Swift Spin has a 360-degree hinge that allows the laptop to rotate among clamshell mode, an A-frame mode, a screen-out/keyboard-down presentation mode, or tablet mode.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
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Weekly prayer calls, rotating visits from family and friends, and a medical team at Mayo Clinic in Arizona that went above and beyond carried her through.—
Ayren Jackson-Cannady,
SELF,
29 May 2026
Verb
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It’s also given Peffer and Zack Tatar time to work on updating a new display for sponsor Broadway San Jose, which will replicate San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts with a revolving stage that shows a musical theater performance on one side and backstage chaos on the other.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
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Clarkson will be joined by fellow returning coach Adam Levine —making his return to the revolving red chairs as the reigning champion — and newcomer coaches Queen Latifah and country music singer Riley Green.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Often mixed in to the beat are noisemakers like matracas – wooden objects in the shape of flags that produce a loud clacking sound when spun – and plastic horns called cornetas, which fans use to keep the matches animated from start to finish.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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This is Linda Clover, volunteer, curator, and caretaker of the 46-foot-wide creation, who’s met thousands of tourists from all over the world at the ball eager to spin some twine and a story.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Verb
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On any other man, this level of villainy could be mustache-twirling and cartoonish.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Players twirled napkins over their heads.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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