pinwheel

verb

Definition of pinwheelnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinwheel
  1. rotate
  2. revolve
  3. spin
  4. twirl
Verb
  • My favorite spot to unwind was at Vilah, a bright café and coworking space on the 10th floor with a rotating Thai art exhibition.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where giant rotating ocean currents trap huge amounts plastic debris, seemed ideal.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • Whether the characters are lab-grown or born, these images capture the worlds that revolve inside each one of them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Valentine and McClain split just before the LP dropped, setting off decades of revolving lineups centered around Iris and stalwart keyboardist Avsec.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of revolve
Verb
  • The position was secured thanks to a small battery that was triggered by a small pin at the launch and powered the camera, a spinning motor wheel, and a gyroscope for the task.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • But adding an additional constraint to this scenario, the original black hole needs to be spinning at the maximum possible speed.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • The exception is a certain velvet gown Diana wore while being twirled on the dance floor by John Travolta during President Reagan’s White House dinner in 1985.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Falcons’ starting quarterback twirled a black string around his finger, then violently whipped it down after his first interception.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of twirl

Browse Nearby Words

pinup girls
pinwheel
pinwheeled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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