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
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
This has translated into freakishly unstable songs that spin from garish wubs and witch folk to lullaby-like purrs.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 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
Murillo’s diagonal ball elicits audible purrs from the Peter Taylor Stand.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
This has translated into freakishly unstable songs that spin from garish wubs and witch folk to lullaby-like purrs.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 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
-
The musical prose hums with different accents, most evidently with Milena’s quips in French and Enzo’s Levantine lilt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
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While most of the country huddles indoors against the winter chill, the City by the Bay hums with a unique energy—born from its legacy as one of the world’s true cultural capitals.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Hike windswept cliffs where shipwrecks whisper.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Sinners Breaks the Oscar Record Shortly before the nominations were announced, Hollywood began whispering about the possibility of Sinners breaking the record for most Oscar nominations for a single film.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Tess murmurs, having had no idea that Alex, who works in finance, has started moonlighting in standup.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
-
An aide for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton shut down murmurs about her entering the race.—
Kyler Alvord,
PEOPLE,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The crowd, rapidly swelling into the hundreds, screamed insults and obscenities at the agents, some of whom shouted back mockingly.—
Jack Brook,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
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While the officers secured the detainees in the van, Arturo Gonzalez, 23, shouted into a megaphone promising that this would not be the last time protestors take such actions.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But images of those youthful frolics amid chirping children quickly slips behind me, muted by my puffing, labored breaths and the blanket of snow.—
Thomas Cangelosi,
Hartford Courant,
4 Jan. 2026
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Had Steve Smith been fit and available to play, then the 31-year-old would have been patrolling another part of the field; maybe busying himself in the covers, or chirping away from under a lid at short leg.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Thompson gasped loudly as the injection began taking effect, according to The Associated Press, before taking about a dozen breaths that turned into snoring sounds.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
As the injection began taking effect, Thompson gasped loudly, then took about a dozen breaths that evolved into three snores.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Or to sometimes instinctively mouth the words to Christmas carols the kids sang to him with tears or confusion in their eyes.—
Scott Maxwell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
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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
Verb
-
He was garbed in prison attire and did not speak during the brief hearing.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
-
In a conversation with Colin Cowherd, Brady spoke about Mendoza.—
Trevor Woods,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purr. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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