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
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 reel
Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
His former teammates watched the highlight reel with glee from afar.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 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
Earlier this week, the actresses shared a reel on Instagram revealing the January pick for Reese’s Book Club over a playful FaceTime call.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
His former teammates watched the highlight reel with glee from afar.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 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
-
Keep scrolling for the other Amazon maternity essentials that were constantly on rotation during my pregnancy.—
Olivia Dubyak,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Clearly an animal print fanatic, Rih also toted her favorite vintage leopard print mini Papillon bag by Louis Vuitton, which has been in her handbag rotation from Aspen to Los Angeles and NYC.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After more than a week of silence on the slopes, the lifts are spinning again at Telluride Ski Resort.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Far from turning on her, the audience awards her with a head-spinning third applause break in just 50 seconds.—
John Roy,
Vulture,
13 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
-
In this lucent sky, long white clouds unfurl like rolls of canvas.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Accessibility The hotel has adapted rooms with roll-in showers, grab bars, lowered lighting, and advanced communication kits for guests with disabilities.—
Paul Oswell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Kids will be wowed by the sharks swimming over their heads.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Both teams swim in their owns pools and the results are exchanged by FAX.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 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
-
Culturally, 2026 is the year cannabis truly weaves into everyday life.—
Amplified Content Studio,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Highlights include massive 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks and world champion drivers performing stunts, such as standing on two wheels and flying through the air in competitions of speed and skill.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Basically, a mechanical computer, where the clicking and clacking of wheels and gears serves to generate new sentences, a randomizer used for novel literature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes an unexpected event lurches family members into becoming caregivers.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The entire tech industry lurched into motion.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
