as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
listened to the reassuring purr of the car engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to whisper
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of purr
Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
And your cat will absolutely join you, probably propping themselves right on your back and purring you into a lulled, wonderfully peaceful nap.
—Mallory Arnold, Outside Online, 25 May 2025
Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 1 July 2025
In a clever flex of corporate synergy, Apple promoted its first summer blockbuster with the release of a haptic trailer that imitates the purr of an F1 engine in the palms of your hands.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Noun
The findings supported the hypothesis that a genetic basis exists for both purring and other forms of vocal communication in cats.
—Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
And your cat will absolutely join you, probably propping themselves right on your back and purring you into a lulled, wonderfully peaceful nap.
—Mallory Arnold, Outside Online, 25 May 2025
Verb
The latest research shows that years of hearing damage can silence quieter tones, such as the purr of a cat settling on your lap.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 1 July 2025
In a clever flex of corporate synergy, Apple promoted its first summer blockbuster with the release of a haptic trailer that imitates the purr of an F1 engine in the palms of your hands.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purr
Verb
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Along the coast, the Curonian Spit unfurls like a ribbon—golden dunes shifting under languid winds and pine forests whispering above the sea.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Nine-year-old Cole Morris cowered in between his grandfather and seven of their family members, whispering prayers as rising floodwaters lapped furiously at the stairs of their attic.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Melancholic nylon guitars, murmuring bongos, and the distant cry of a trumpet create a vibe that sounds timeless — the magic is undeniable.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
1 Aug. 2025
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Her response was met with audible gasps and murmurs from the Wimbledon crowd.—
Kasia Pilat,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
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After beating Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins in a 1-on-1 drill to start Tuesday’s joint practice, Mitchell shouted in the direction of several media members who witnessed him make Wiggins look bad at the line of scrimmage.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
6 Aug. 2025
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Thelma was the only one who kept rushing forward, shouting, Harold is shot!—
Joshua Sharpe
August 6,
Literary Hub,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Sanders then chirped a bit, spun the ball and Jackson picked the ball up and threw it back at Sanders. 5 other plays that caught the Panthers’ attention Here are five other plays that caught the attention of the team on Wednesday.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
30 July 2025
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The defense has plenty of guys that can chirp, but none like Roach.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
Verb
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According to multiple witness accounts, Black groaned, gasped and appeared to be in visible distress during the execution.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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The soundtrack to it all included enough cracking to keep the audience and judges cringing and gasping.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
30 July 2025
Verb
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The Bulldogs players began to tap their friends and mouth the quarterback’s name.—
Adam Grosbard,
Orange County Register,
5 Mar. 2025
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Ford decided to mouth his last name at the end, a decision that caused observers to break out in laughter.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Religious leaders from various faiths attend and speak at the event each year, the Imam said.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Sweeney's Penny Jo speaks with a stutter, asking if the artifact is really worth half a million dollars.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Book girlies everywhere breathed out a sigh of relief, and then squealed at the TV, as one of the quintessential Belly-Conrad moments from book 3 delivered everything and more.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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El-Sayed’s theory is that the winning strategies of Bernie Sanders have never gotten a chance to breathe in Michigan.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purr. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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