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purl

verb

Definition of purlnext
as in to swirl

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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 purl The two halves of the hook move independently, enabling the device to knit or purl depending on which part picks up the first loop. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025 There was no ocean, no sea in this part of Україна, only a purling river. — Literary Hub, 12 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purl
  1. swirl
  2. ripple
  3. bubble
  4. eddy
  5. gurgle
  6. dribble
  7. lap
  8. wash
Verb
  • Polo was swirling about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south-southwest of Zihuatanejo early Thursday and was moving northwest at 7 mph (11 kph).
    — Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Beaches emptied out and dark clouds swirled above choppy seas, while Mexican authorities temporarily suspended classes in a number of areas on Tuesday.
    — DESIREE BROOKS, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of swirl
Verb
  • Escarpments were carved into beaches, asphalt rippled on the coastal highway, and tourists like Lester were left trapped.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Directly mirroring the music video, Yung Lean was flanked by a swath of dancers in school uniforms who rippled through captivating choreography created by Damien Jalet.
    — Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of ripple
Verb
  • Top with the cheddar and return to the oven for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling around the edges.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Rate hikes, power outages and now data centers coming online that threaten to strain the electric grid have all bubbled over ahead of the midterm.
    — Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of bubble
Verb
  • Lindsay-Abaire makes a real meal of sketching the rest of the neighborhood association, played by a bevy of nimble theatrical comedians, though their own simmering resentments tend to eddy alongside the central Kyra-Elliot conflict.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Moses’s book eddies around with the energy of someone reporting back from a very long and strange evening clicking through Wikipedia links, enjoying every chance to add a tangent.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Definition of eddy
Verb
  • The piano part gurgles like the waters with a rippling right-hand figure in sextuplets.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • After years of stomach-gurgling, nail-chewing anxiety, this was an entirely different Arsenal experience.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of gurgle
Verb
  • Then Clark put on a dribbling clinic, made nifty pass after nifty pass and became both a harassing presence on defense and the Fever's emotional leader during a 20-6 second-quarter run.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • But moments later, Bremen got even when Cardoso dribbled past a series of defenders and played a dangerous ball into the box that a Herscher defender booted into the net for an own goal.
    — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of dribble
Verb
  • Strong waves were already lapping at the coastline of her city Lázaro Cárdenas in Michoacán.
    — Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Blaney, who led a race-high 202 laps despite starting 29th, was already frustrated after falling into heavy traffic because of a penalty for a pit lane violation with just over 100 laps remaining.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of lap
Verb
  • Additionally, the project’s closed-loop water system prevents nutrients from washing into nearby rivers, where runoff from conventional cotton production can contribute to eutrophication.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • From SheetsGate to purposefully washing Joy’s uniforms with rags, the laundry room has unleashed something deranged in Gen.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of wash

Browse Nearby Words

purity
purl
purled
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Cite this Entry

“Purl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purl. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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