as in hums
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purrs
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 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
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
Noun
This has translated into freakishly unstable songs that spin from garish wubs and witch folk to lullaby-like purrs.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purrs
Noun
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As Jarcovjáková travels from the former Czechoslovakia to Japan and West Berlin, navigating rejection and the lives of various lovers, the murmurs of voices, quiet footsteps and hums of crowded rooms accompany her striking black-and-white photography.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
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Yet something more complicated hums beneath the surface.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Then came whispers that Netflix had put the show on its internal server, and employees couldn’t get enough of Bell and Brody’s crackling chemistry.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
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These days, my mind still whispers, When the war ends—as though the war is continuing inside me, even after the noise of the air strikes outside has stopped.—
Ghada Abdulfattah,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Go to Settings > Apps > Phone and toggle Haptics off to stop those subtle buzzes that can feel like extra notifications.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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About halfway through our interview, Uchis’ phone buzzes.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Yurov laughs hysterically and chirps back at Kreider.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Robak shouts through a megaphone in a video recording of the moment.—
Beki San Martin,
Freep.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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The person filming also shouts in terror as the video captures the scale of the disaster before news of the crash sent shock through the community.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The River Coln murmurs gently here—weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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There have also been murmurs around Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler — but nothing more.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Demerzel gasps, and for once Day isn’t preening in the mirror but bowing his head.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These are texts that hide their depth under a thick layer of flatulence jokes, loud guitars or Texas drawls.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purrs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purrs. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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