PURR Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

purr 1 of 2

noun

ˈpər

Definition of purr

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

purr

2 of 2

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 purr

Noun

But a growing body of research suggests some of the most therapeutic sounds on earth are already in your home — your cat’s purr, rain on the window, birdsong outside. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026 Cats also purr when they’re injured or stressed, not just content. — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026

Verb

While the video plays and the cat closes in on Bender ever-so-slowly, hen turkeys in the nearby pasture can be heard yelping and purring. — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 23 Apr. 2026 Their first conversation is comically lopsided, and McKellen, purring his way through what is effectively a monologue, lays the groundwork for his most vividly inhabited and hilariously irascible performance in years. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purr

Recent Examples of Synonyms for purr

Noun

By fields of cotton and soybeans where his bees forage and pollinate, Foster Hensel pries open the lid of one of his beehives, setting off a rising hum from inside.

— Drew Hawkins, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Inside one of American Royal’s vast new barns, the smell of fresh paint still lingers as the hum of whirring drills and construction equipment fills the space just over 15 days until its first event on the new campus.

— Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of hum

Verb

The woman who had compiled the Handy Hints book helpfully explained these technical details to Flynn, whispering in his ear like someone translating a foreign language.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Texans joined hands, whispered prayers - and some armed themselves, bought supplies and waited.

— Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of whisper

Verb

That pertness should be unbearable, but the scene is written in a minor key and performed by both actors to match, favouring eye contact and murmurs; the sheer brevity prevents it from becoming gloopy or crass.

— Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Some people experience a faster heart rate and, in severe cases, can develop a heart murmur.

— Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of murmur

Verb

Alonso threw his bat and shouted toward his teammates in the visiting dugout upon impact — an image Mets fans can instantly recall from his most famous long ball with New York in 2024’s wild-card series.

— Will Sammon, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Emmys presenter and huge fan Marcello Hernández shouted out the newlyweds from the stage, saying hi to Zendaya.

— Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of shout

Verb

There’s even a soundtrack of chirping birds and rushing water.

— Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2026
Rutschman said some of his former Orioles teammates chirped at him throughout the game and gave him a hard time about getting around the ballpark as a visiting player.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of chirp

Verb

Extreme mountain climbing has never looked anything but miserable from the distance of a screening room, and The Other Side delivers mightily on all that scraping, straining, gasping toil.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
The power outages caused by storms that roared through the region nearly two weeks ago have one resident of this Rust Belt city literally gasping for air.

— Selina Guevara, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of gasp

Verb

In addition to conversations with Gansey and head coach Nick Nurse, The Athletic spoke with three league sources with direct knowledge of Philadelphia’s offseason maneuvering.

— Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking to Danish news agency Ritzau in Nuuk, said the message from Greenland’s government and people had been consistent.

— Reuters, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of speak

Browse Nearby Words

purposively

purr

purred

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Style

“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purr. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of purr

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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