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
Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Rhino was the last of the 17, Rhino was one in a trillion the sweetest cat ever never had an ounce of mean in him, always purring and making the cutest sounds.
—Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 2 Aug. 2025
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2025
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Noun
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
Rhino was the last of the 17, Rhino was one in a trillion the sweetest cat ever never had an ounce of mean in him, always purring and making the cutest sounds.
—Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 2 Aug. 2025
Verb
Evan Engram produces the franchise’s best season by a tight end since Julius Thomas in 2013 and 2014.
Future Hall of Famer Drew Brees made Payton’s offenses purr in New Orleans.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2025
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purr
Noun
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For the signature bitterness, instead of the classic Campari, Taylor used the deeper Averna—where Campari’s orange bitterness is bright and juicy, Averna’s orange bitterness is a lower hum, like a flourless chocolate cake.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
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Back at its Utah HQ, where the walls are lined with pink Crumbl University diplomas and the test kitchen hums with invention, the next big flavor is already in the oven.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Aragón Aragón is a region that whispers rather than shouts.—
Nigel Hack,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
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Visitors hear phantom footsteps echoing on staircases, doors slamming shut with violent force, and ghostly whispers drifting through the halls.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The music cuts off, and, gradually, everyone leaves, murmuring about a rave happening not too far away.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
18 Sep. 2025
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Customers in the Dunkin’ have a similar response, murmuring and looking over their shoulders for the Accountant 2 actor.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To their right, a woman raised her hand, jabbing her index finger forward and shouting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Perry shouted into her microphone.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Banter and even chirping the opposition is not an issue at Ryder Cups.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Sean Payton was chirping at Bonitto on the sidelines.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The powerful primate makes contact with the glass wall with a heavy thud, which leaves the group near the wall gasping and yelping in fear.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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Reactions from the crowd can be heard in the background — with zoo visitors gasping.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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The Bulldogs players began to tap their friends and mouth the quarterback’s name.—
Adam Grosbard,
Orange County Register,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Diane Brady is an award-winning business journalist and author who has interviewed newsmakers worldwide and often speaks about the global business landscape.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
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In an interview with the BBC's Scott Mills on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, Swift spoke about the differences and similarities with her job versus her future husband's.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purr. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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