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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
As the airline industry reeled and competitors quickly began furloughing employees, Southwest’s leadership gathered in their Dallas boardroom.
—
The Oklahoman, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
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
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
The Oklahoman, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
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
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
-
Cheers erupted from the crowd as participants spun and laughed, fully embracing the spirit of the decade.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
The rotors on the SkyFall helicopters will also be larger than those on Ingenuity, which spun its blades at 2,700 rpm, already 10 times faster than passenger helicopters on Earth.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Indiana has staggered statewide elections, so Bray is not up for reelection until 2028, but his leadership position could be in jeopardy with the results of Tuesday's election.—
Caroline Linton,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
By the time the Magic staggered into Detroit for Game 7 on Sunday afternoon, the outcome felt less like a question and more like an inevitability.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Crisp swam up to over a dozen people in the wave pool that day and placed his hands on their buttocks, according to Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Brittany Ford, who was referring to surveillance footage reviewed by law enforcement.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2026
-
Jerry swam strongly for three or four minutes, then rolled over on his back and floated.—
Jim Hoagland,
Outdoor Life,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
France lurched from republic to dictatorship to empire before cycling back through absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy, Second Republic, and Second Empire.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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An indictment filed in federal court in Sacramento on Thursday charges Mendoza Hernandez with one count of assault with a deadly weapon for each time his car lurched forward, incidents the government said were about seven seconds apart.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
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My real allegiance, if burritos can inspire allegiance, is to the northern-Mexican style, made with a modest amount of filling and rolled into a consequentially narrower cylinder.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
Betts has competed in the PBA, and has rolled the perfect 300 game.—
Mac Engel
May 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeled. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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