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
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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The rotating door of managers in Queens spins once again.
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Nobody expected that the Feeneys would go on for half a century, but every winter and spring that passed, the team would be back on the diamond, albeit with a rotating cast.
Verb
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And for those who don't own a home — or who prefer not to borrow against it — personal loans can provide a more affordable alternative to revolving credit card debt, particularly for borrowers with strong credit.
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Instead of getting a lump sum, a HELOC offers a revolving line of credit that can be used as needed during a borrowing period, usually five to 10 years.
Verb
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The rotating door of managers in Queens spins once again.
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The first permanent cotton-spinning mill was established in Pawtucket, Rhode Island dating back to 1790.
Verb
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Throngs of people gather to watch troupes perform ballet over the hum of violin strings, twirl to Hindi music in traditional Indian dress, and even stomp to heavy metal.
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Keith twirled the edges in his fingers and flipped the long part back and forth over his shoulder.
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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