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
Relevance
1
2
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of reel
Glamour, 9 Apr. 2026
Addlon 54-Feet Shatterproof String Lights, $20 with Prime If versatility is important to you, check out this 54-foot reel of shatterproof string lights.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Chicago Sky fans still might be reeling from Monday’s blockbuster trade of All-Star forward Angel Reese.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reel
Noun
Guests took every opportunity to share their experience on social media, with Glamour global editorial director and editor-in-chief Samantha Barry and Lee setting the playful tone by filming a trending Instagram reel.
—Glamour, 9 Apr. 2026
Addlon 54-Feet Shatterproof String Lights, $20 with Prime If versatility is important to you, check out this 54-foot reel of shatterproof string lights.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
But Houston can jump past the reeling Lakers to get the fourth seed, or even the third seed, either of which would mean first-round home court.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Chicago Sky fans still might be reeling from Monday’s blockbuster trade of All-Star forward Angel Reese.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel
Noun
-
With Brooklyn’s injury list still swallowing half the rotation and the draft lottery picture tightening by the day, Liddell used Tuesday night as a personal argument.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Both teams had some rotation chaos.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The plot that spins from this opening includes a series of events involving philosophy, parenting, mental health, disability, romance and international art terrorism that would take several columns worth to summarize.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
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Invitees will be welcomed with Martell’s French 75 while a DJ spins the hottest beats before Davido himself arrives on Sunday, April 12.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the Transit officers descended down to the 4/5/6 platform, one of Griffin’s victims came staggering up the stairs, seeking medial attention, Tisch said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Heat continued to stagger the minutes of its top two scorers, as Herro again started and Norman Powell again played off the bench.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rough Creek Lodge had antelope sausage in a garlic roll with a chimichurri sauce.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
-
As the roll was called, town after town announced votes for both Lamont and Lieberman.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The notation was curiously quaint, dots and curly tails swimming along like so many tadpoles.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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The person swimming in the lane next to mine was doing the breaststroke and hit me with her leg, under the lane rope, on two consecutive laps.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The mandolins weave intricate patterns together, in counterpoint or unison.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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This over 1,000-mile route weaves through breathtaking Great Lakes landscapes, tracing the edge of the glacier that covered these parts over 12,000 years ago.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Police said the vehicle had unique characteristics on the passenger rear wheel.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Usually, fitting smaller wheels to an EV increases range because the rotation of each wheel causes a lot of drag that saps range, and smaller, narrower wheels disturb less air.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile the Caliente Range — those mountains just to the west — are lurching the opposite way.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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Don’t gag, don’t cry — and my stomach lurched.—
Kate Crane,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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