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
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Recent Examples of purr
Jessica Moore, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
The purr of an engine was the pulse of performance – until a quiet revolution started taking shape under the surface.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
So Hicks would hop in his truck and turn the ignition, coating Dobbins’ cuts in the soft glow of purring Ford F-150 headlights.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Noun
The 2025 holiday season is the purr-fect time to spoil your furry friends with gifts.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
The purr of an engine was the pulse of performance – until a quiet revolution started taking shape under the surface.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
The locals purr contentedly after an all-day shift at the pig farm: Let the little baby bird from the city settle in, make herself at home.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
So Hicks would hop in his truck and turn the ignition, coating Dobbins’ cuts in the soft glow of purring Ford F-150 headlights.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purr
Noun
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Most nights, Mike's is a standard hum of conversation, colliding pool balls and whatever game is on TV.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
7 Nov. 2025
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Swim, snorkel, or simply lie back and let the hum of cicadas and the sound of the waves wash over you.—
Marco Palermo,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Available in three sleek neutral shades, these joggers whisper quiet luxury and feel like a dream.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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But no one wants to be caught sifting through lawsuits or whispering about a castmate’s questionable business practices.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After Jib-jib moved in with the family, however, his heart murmur went away.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Two students have unrolled what looks like an incomplete treasure map, and lean over it with magnifying glasses, murmuring to one another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Davis stood up and shouted at referee Jeffrey Anderson.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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The post even shouted out Moore, who was absent.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His fun chirping with an OU lineman is, though.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
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Her Cornish Rex cat, Rabbit, is sprawled out on the floor, unconcerned by the two birds (Chicken and Charlie) chirping from an adjacent office or a colleague’s gray-haired cat next door, who seems to be causing a stir.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When visitors enter and see the massive aircraft, slightly tilted to give the illusion of takeoff and framed by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Simi Valley hills, their first reaction is to gasp, Trulio said.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
1 Nov. 2025
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Occasionally a voice would gasp at the window.—
Ryan Knighton,
AFAR Media,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The opposition’s mainstream leaders still mouth the catechism that change should come by Venezuelan hands, but more are openly courting external pressure to tilt the balance.—
Robert Muggah,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2025
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True and Dream then appeared in the same way, with True expertly flipping her sunglasses onto her face in time to the music, before the trio joined Kardashian to mouth the lyrics.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Schnapp also spoke to PEOPLE about the series ending, insisting that all loose ends had been tied — even his character’s longstanding crush on his best friend Mike (Wolfhard).—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Babbitt’s mother spoke several times, demanding justice for her daughter.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purr. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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