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
Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Much of it showed in the first (12-2 shots advantage) and the third (10-3) periods, but Emerick was steady, including a highlight-reel save with 22 seconds left on a grade-A look.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
While the annual inflation rate has cooled sharply since peaking in 2022, consumers are still reeling from the aggregate price hikes over the last five years and are demanding lower prices, not just slower increases.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reel
Noun
The reel hints at their efforts to rebuild their friendship after the duo's split in 2022.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Much of it showed in the first (12-2 shots advantage) and the third (10-3) periods, but Emerick was steady, including a highlight-reel save with 22 seconds left on a grade-A look.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
Still, no one knows the pride of the Lions better than Johnson, who faces the challenge of getting his team fully locked in and ready for a street fight against a reeling team that is eliminated from playoff contention.
—Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
While the annual inflation rate has cooled sharply since peaking in 2022, consumers are still reeling from the aggregate price hikes over the last five years and are demanding lower prices, not just slower increases.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel
Noun
-
Choose from four neutral colors—classic black, chocolate brown, light pink, or a creamy white—to add to your wardrobe rotation.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The Royals are expected to enter the 2026 seasonn with a potential starting rotation of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Bubic and Cameron.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Advancing to the bonus round, Alison spun the wheel again and managed to solve an eight-letter puzzle with just three letters on the board.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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From trad wives to spin classes to caregiving, Smithuijsen reveals how late stage capitalism strips women of agency and traps them in endless cycles of empty consumption and thankless labor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Bills had a pretty cushy road schedule this year, playing once outside the Eastern time zone, yet staggered around early.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The Packers staggered to the finish with a four-game losing streak but will have quarterback Jordan Love (concussion) back.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
The footage shows the fish start to swim faster and more erratically when a large whale suddenly breaks through the school of fish with its gaping maw.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In two years, the Buffs have hopped from the land of tech bros (the old Pac-12) to a conference of oil barons (the Big 12) who swim in fast cash and Texas tea.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An hour later, for its first concert since the fires, parishioners sat in awe as Grammy Award winning violinist Anne Akiko Meyers weaved her bow across her violin, the music of Johann Sebastian Bach echoing through the church.—
Camelia Heins,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Culturally, 2026 is the year cannabis truly weaves into everyday life.—
Amplified Content Studio,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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,
10 Jan. 2026
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Kennedy had to be wheel-chaired into the officials’ locker room.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
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 11 Jan. 2026.
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