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

In its megacities and beyond, traffic is increasingly falling silent, the dull whir of the electric motor replacing the purr of an internal combustion engine. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 May 2026 In DuPont Circle near the Hilton, an otherwise quiet night was disrupted by the scream of sirens and purr of helicopters. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 26 Apr. 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

Usually, the town’s namesake island, far down in downstate Illinois, is quiet enough to hear the hum of the barges droning along the Mississippi River.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
The background hum comes from X-ray emissions detected by Chandra.

— Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 4 July 2026

Definition of hum

Verb

Djokovic chirped back at the crowd during the match, and in his on-court interview afterwards, was asked about the atmosphere.

— Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Think your back yard can get buggy in the summer—with mosquitoes, flies, moths, wasps, bees, lightning bugs, crickets, and more swarming, buzzing, and chirping everywhere?

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 June 2026

Definition of chirp

Verb

Stunned spectators are heard gasping and screaming before people start to run away.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
And when he was questioned by a police officer about his decision to pronounce the boy dead while the child was still gasping for air, the doctor allegedly pulled rank.

— Gabriella Bachara, NBC news, 3 July 2026

Definition of gasp

Verb

Security camera footage from a nearby residence showed the Durango parked in a driveway when three suspects approached the vehicle’s driver’s side and spoke engaged with Mitchell, the probable cause statement said.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Just a few days later, Navratilova spoke by phone about the film, the friendship and their cancer battles.

— Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 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 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of purr

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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