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
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Honey is ready to bring love, purrs and playful cuddles to her forever home.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
Scientists may have finally solved the mystery of how cats purr.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Noun
On most days, the surf is loud enough to mask the steady purr of cars.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Honey is ready to bring love, purrs and playful cuddles to her forever home.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
Hot chocolate, ’90s rom-coms, purring kittens, and the best luxury throw blankets.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
Scientists may have finally solved the mystery of how cats purr.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purr
Noun
-
The series, which stars Hall (Resurrection, Christine) as a popular English teacher who suddenly begins to hear a persistent low hum that no-one else can hear, runs to five parts.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
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But the city's kitchens today hum with something new, thanks to a wave of creative energy that has reshaped the Colombian city over the past decade.—
Allie Lazar,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
League sources have whispered since late October that Mosley’s job could be in jeopardy, and although Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman declined to make an in-season coaching change despite several puzzling lopsided defeats, the Magic announced Mosley’s dismissal Monday.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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And there’s already whispering that eventual new ownership will push for a remodeled ballpark to include a retractable roof.—
Charley Walters,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
But many questions went unanswered, frustrating many murmuring and grumbling attendees.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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True to form, the Boards of Canada resurrection has murmured to life so quietly that only the most obsessive of code breakers twigged it early on.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that a man wearing a ski mask ran toward the former royal while shouting abuse on Wednesday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that a man wearing a ski mask ran toward the former royal while shouting abuse.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
I'mPhaedra Trethan, using this handy guide to identify the birds chirping in my yard each morning.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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And the birds are chirping their hearts out.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Each speech in Policy is time-limited; kids speak like gasping auctioneers to cram in arguments their opponents must try to rebut.—
Eli Durst,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Symptoms of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, resemble a cold, with a cough that usually worsens over weeks and can cause gasping, vomiting and difficulty breathing, the Pasadena Public Health Department said in a statement announcing the outbreak.—
Fedor Zarkhin,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Both governments still mouth the old slogans, by rote.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential negotiations.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
Fox 5 reported that Semrade did not speak during the hearing and showed no emotion.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purr. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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