as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point
she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reel
Lindsay Lowe, Parents, 8 Nov. 2025
The experience of being bombarded with shoe-closet-makeover reels and deep-plane-facelift infomercials from Miami plastic surgeons is as normal there as breathing.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Also, the Commanders upset them in the playoffs last season, and should be reeling from the loss of Jayden Daniels this week.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reel
Noun
In somber reels that popped up in my feed, people shared their experiences with ectopic pregnancy, silent miscarriage, and stillbirths.
—Lindsay Lowe, Parents, 8 Nov. 2025
The experience of being bombarded with shoe-closet-makeover reels and deep-plane-facelift infomercials from Miami plastic surgeons is as normal there as breathing.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
One of the hottest teams in the league during the first half of the season, the Colts were sent reeling last week by the Steelers.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Also, the Commanders upset them in the playoffs last season, and should be reeling from the loss of Jayden Daniels this week.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel
Noun
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The Shenzhou-20 astronauts – mission commander Chen Dong, fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie – arrived at Tiangong in April for a six-month rotation.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Sweeney’s boots continued a string of luxe silhouettes in the actress’ shoe rotation.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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According to the report, McClure was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer southbound when the vehicle left the road and began to spin.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
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Entertainers tend to bend memory to their advantage; Margolick, contemptuous of myth, straightens the record, especially the legends spun by Mel Brooks, Caesar’s protégé.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Its board of directors has six seats, with elections staggered so that half of the board turns over at a time.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
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Multiple batteries can address longer gaps in energy production when their discharges are staggered.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Each basket could feed up to 10 people and included a turkey, a bag of potatoes, bread rolls, vegetables, sweets and side dishes.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Original sketches, color swatches and archival images tracing the history of yoga wear — which went from loose to form-fitting — along with rolls of Align fabric offered a visual display of how Align evolved from an idea into a global franchise over a decade.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Helping Sotheby’s achieve such an eye-watering figure was Mercedes Gleitze’s ‘Companion Oyster,’ an ultra-rare Rolex prototype worn by the first British women to swim the English Channel on one of her many journeys across the water.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
11 Nov. 2025
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Knobs on the edges of whale flippers help the animals swim in tight circles.—
Carl Zimmer,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Bend in the River weaves unpredictably between the three films, the narrative – like a river flowing – assembled with the very considerable assistance of editor Jeff Malmberg.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
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In decades past, CNN was known in advertising circles for being very cautious about weaving commercials into its news coverage.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Ferris wheel never materialized either.—
Grant Lancaster,
Arkansas Online,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This can result in a kind of emotional whiplash, with the tone of the videos lurching between joy and devastation.—
Lindsay Lowe,
Parents,
8 Nov. 2025
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Perry’s films can lurch from romance to madcap Madea comedy to skeletons-in-the-closet family drama and back…all in the space of 20 minutes.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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