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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Over the years, the series has also seen a rotating roster of hosts, including current faces Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown, rotating pans about halfway through.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The revolving theater attraction chronicles how technological advances have shaped the lives of an American family, primarily across the 20th Century.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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For her take on enduring Grease style, Bieber revolved her going-out look around a boxy moto jacket—one of her signature wardrobe staples.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Waterspouts are spinning columns of air and water mist above bodies of water and can take two forms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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While most broths are perfectly serviceable for rounding out the flavors of a soup or giving a brothy head start to a braise, Epic provides the kind of gelatine-rich base that is worthy of spinning up into a ramen broth for weeknight noodle duty.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Two go-go dancers twirled on a bar behind them.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
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But then, in August of 2024, it got stuck — again — this time slowly twirling in a kind of ocean vortex known as the Taylor column.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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