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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 purrs
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Murillo’s diagonal ball elicits audible purrs from the Peter Taylor Stand.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
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
Noun
Take their purrs, for example, which are known to vibrate at frequencies that can reduce stress and soothe anxiety.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Murillo’s diagonal ball elicits audible purrs from the Peter Taylor Stand.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
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
-
Mechanical hums rattle the skyway’s roughly mile-long interstitial space, married with a cacophony of tires thumping over the hundreds of omni-directional, accordion-style joints that are designed to absorb any displacement, rotation or seismic movement.—
Katie Lauer,
Mercury News,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The mountain hums with energy, but never chaos.—
Denny Lee,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Your 12th House of Healing whispers to your 3rd House of Conversing as the heady Sun squares vulnerable Chiron, showing where old patterns drain energy and where rest restores focus.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Then come whispers that her painting might be nominated for a grant that could launch her career.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
About halfway through our interview, Uchis’ phone buzzes.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yurov laughs hysterically and chirps back at Kreider.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hilliker shouts as her family applauds them.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Eilish shouts from the open window.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Tess murmurs, having had no idea that Alex, who works in finance, has started moonlighting in standup.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
-
An aide for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton shut down murmurs about her entering the race.—
Kyler Alvord,
PEOPLE,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The rest of the gang rushes inside to be at Eleven’s side and save the children who are trapped inside on the Pain Tree, while Vecna burbles and gasps for air.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The clashes drew bursts of laughter and, sometimes, gasps, from the show's studio audience and from home viewers.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
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 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
