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
  • When the device rotates, the frequencies of these signals shift slightly relative to each other.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But having a card that earns 2X rewards everywhere doesn't restrict you from opening a rewards card that earns a 3X return on popular categories or 5% back on rotating categories.
    — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • Kura Sushi, a tech-forward revolving sushi bar with more than 100 menu items, also debuted in Ballantyne this summer.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Over the past two decades, the CCP has come to revolve ever more tightly around a single man.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of revolve
Verb
  • Bubba Wallace exited the Bank of America 400 on Lap 77 after Alex Bowman spun into him near the bank on the Turn 2 corner exit on Sunday in a race eventually won by Chase Briscoe.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The track hoe operator repeatedly spun the machine to the west, dug into a mound of sand, spun 180 degrees and dropped the sand.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • Wellsley Farms Maple Pecan Danish A delightfully sweet breakfast treat or a post-dinner dessert, these maple pecan danishes are flaky pastries twirled with maple and pecans.
    — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The woman also said Dominguez put his arms around her and picked her up to twirl her when no one else was around, the newspaper reported.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 8 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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