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as in staggered
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 reeled
These direct relationships of mutual candor and trust have been vital in delivering wins for the state where others reeled.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
America during the 1960s reeled from the Civil Rights movement, anti-Vietnam War protests and other political and social upheaval — and protest art took different forms, like performance art, even puppets.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Nearby Flint still reeled from the water crisis.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
But only a few moments after chucking a wild runner off the side of the backboard to fall to 0 of 7, Kuminga reeled the Hawks crowd back in with a decisive transition layup over Brandin Podziemski to score his only basket of the night.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
When the Avs faltered before the Olympic break, the Stars reeled them back in.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
On those previous two occasions, Guardiola’s team successfully reeled them in.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Five straight Poway victories reeled Buchanan back in.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Kenny eventually reeled the shark close enough to shore to unhook and release it.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
America during the 1960s reeled from the Civil Rights movement, anti-Vietnam War protests and other political and social upheaval — and protest art took different forms, like performance art, even puppets.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Nearby Flint still reeled from the water crisis.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
But only a few moments after chucking a wild runner off the side of the backboard to fall to 0 of 7, Kuminga reeled the Hawks crowd back in with a decisive transition layup over Brandin Podziemski to score his only basket of the night.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
When the Avs faltered before the Olympic break, the Stars reeled them back in.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
On those previous two occasions, Guardiola’s team successfully reeled them in.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Five straight Poway victories reeled Buchanan back in.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Kenny eventually reeled the shark close enough to shore to unhook and release it.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeled
Verb
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In a 2015 email, when Mead Johnson was considering supplying some of its formula to a researcher for a study, a company neonatologist expressed concern that the results could be spun to make the preemie product look unsafe.—
David Hilzenrath,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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The product is the first of its kind to come out of Meta Superintelligence Labs , an AI-focused unit at Meta that was spun up last year.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to a Monday press release from the Park District, the pink blossoms are approaching stage five, and many of the white blossoms are in stages three and four, meaning blooms will be slightly staggered.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Knueppel staggered, but didn’t fall.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Elsewhere in the photoshoot, Hosk swam in a pool, clad in a white graphic T-shirt and black underwear.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
10 Apr. 2026
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The whale swam into an inlet on the small island of Poel, near the port of Wismar, on Tuesday and got stuck again.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Don’t gag, don’t cry — and my stomach lurched.—
Kate Crane,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
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Since then, the larger culture has lurched rightward, with big corporations abandoning progressive signaling in favor of…other priorities.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Takaoka played a long arcing ball-ahead to Ocampo, who avoided goalkeeper James Pantemis — who had charged off his line — and rolled a shot from the edge of the penalty area inside the back post and into a wide-open net.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Pereira had rolled the ankle jumping into the right-field wall while trying to go after a fly ball during the March 30 game in Miami.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeled. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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