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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to whisper
Related Words
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
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025
But the other people who live nearby may not be so easily swayed by those adorable puppy dog eyes or precious purrs and might get very irritated.
—Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
The most understated player on this list, Fabian Ruiz is another midfielder who makes PSG purr.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Noun
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
But the other people who live nearby may not be so easily swayed by those adorable puppy dog eyes or precious purrs and might get very irritated.
—Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
The most understated player on this list, Fabian Ruiz is another midfielder who makes PSG purr.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purr
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Available in three sleek neutral shades, these joggers whisper quiet luxury and feel like a dream.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
Bearing rugelach, Brooks arrived late, shouted everyone down, and then—infuriatingly—made their work better.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The video shows immigration agents arresting a man later identified as Dennis Quiñonez, as people shout that there is a child in the back of the car.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
His fun chirping with an OU lineman is, though.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
Occasionally a voice would gasp at the window.—
Ryan Knighton,
AFAR Media,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
As in the never-ending parade of ostensibly Christian exorcism movies, religious belief here seems like a superficial excuse for a stock array of supernatural hoodoo — no matter how many times Chalik’s Abuyya pauses the action to mouth some healing doctrine.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Strictly speaking, the Democrats didn’t vote to end the shutdown.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Backstage later, Raw general manager Adam Pearce spoke about what just occurred with Punk, Jey, and Cody against The Vision.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purr. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share