reel 1 of 2

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

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reel

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to spin
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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
Noun
Despite the eye test and a few highlight reel plays suggesting that Adell is dramatically improved, he’s still not rated highly by the metrics. Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 29 July 2025 But Moody followed up with a Facebook message thanking the composer for his time in working with the class, and, against all expectations, Abels responded by asking for Moody’s reel. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 25 July 2025
Verb
The initial planning began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while global economies were still reeling, construction costs surged, interest rates climbed, and supply chains collapsed. Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025 Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for reel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reel
Noun
  • These infield additions not only allowed for better rotation over the final two months of the year, but also allowed another viable option at shortstop if Volpe’s struggles continued.
    Tyler Small, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Duty rotations were tighter on the ship, and sometimes weeks passed without a full day off.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Eovaldi, a former Yankee, spun a gem in Texas, allowing just one hit while walking none and striking out six over eight scoreless innings and 98 pitches.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Parker spun a myth about his upbringing in West Virginia that endured for decades.
    Kim Willis, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But Cnet raises something else: in previous years, Apple has staggered the release dates of its products, even though the unveiling has happened on the same day.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • However, there are several small kitchen appliances that use a lot of power and their use should be staggered whenever possible.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Usually the thin, transparent rounds made from rice, water and salt are the foundation for Vietnamese summer rolls — fresh spring rolls filled with shredded vegetables, fresh herbs, noodles and proteins like shrimp and pork and served cold.
    Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Here are some of the signs that Act III will have a rock ‘n’ roll edge.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Even Ravens players like Stanley who already knew how to swim got assistance from Phelps.
    Sophie Kaufman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Yonah described how the girls were floating unconscious in the water, their life jackets keeping them afloat, as their father—who does not know how to swim—scraped up his hands, feet and back trying to save them.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Now, with just a few months’ notice, staff are dismantling a 30-year program carefully woven into the city’s social safety net.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The last time might have been in a regional nightclub in the mid aughts, or weaving through a busy high street.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • And the wheels might resemble wire spokes but on closer examination, are actually forged aluminum pieces.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • When songwriters pen songs about country music or the lifestyle associated with it, there’s no need to reinvent the tractor wheel.
    Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Later in the drive, FSD lurched right – for no apparent reason – and tried to go down a steep driveway grade toward a locked gate.
    Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
  • From the outside, the company has appeared to be lurching from one crisis to the next.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reel. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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