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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
The cases remained unsolved for decades as the sleepy Long Island community reeled over the possibility of a serial killer lurking in their midst.
—
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In the first two months of the Covid pandemic, as markets reeled, the Federal Reserve purchased $580 billion in agency MBS.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Hours into the Administration, the Coast Guard reeled from the abrupt dismissal of the then Commandant, Admiral Linda Fagan.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The film crashed down onto Earth at a moment as audiences worldwide reeled from the helplessness of their own global crisis.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2026
The entrepreneur spent his final high school years attending an affluent South African boys school—surrounded by peers who later became politicians and award-winning novelists—while the rest of the country reeled from apartheid.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025
The groundbreaking Weimar-era Austrian filmmaker left his country when the Nazis came to power, but he was reeled back in just a few years later, and began making movies under the auspices of Joseph Goebbels.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
As markets reeled, officials later struck a more conciliatory tone, indicating that formal trade talks were expected to resume in the weeks ahead.
—Lyssanoel Frater, Freep.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Cruz may face challenges over several controversies he has been involved in, including his questioning of the 2020 election results and his 2021 trip to Cancun, Mexico, as Texas reeled from a historic storm.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2025
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In the first two months of the Covid pandemic, as markets reeled, the Federal Reserve purchased $580 billion in agency MBS.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Hours into the Administration, the Coast Guard reeled from the abrupt dismissal of the then Commandant, Admiral Linda Fagan.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The film crashed down onto Earth at a moment as audiences worldwide reeled from the helplessness of their own global crisis.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2026
The entrepreneur spent his final high school years attending an affluent South African boys school—surrounded by peers who later became politicians and award-winning novelists—while the rest of the country reeled from apartheid.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025
The groundbreaking Weimar-era Austrian filmmaker left his country when the Nazis came to power, but he was reeled back in just a few years later, and began making movies under the auspices of Joseph Goebbels.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
As markets reeled, officials later struck a more conciliatory tone, indicating that formal trade talks were expected to resume in the weeks ahead.
—Lyssanoel Frater, Freep.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Cruz may face challenges over several controversies he has been involved in, including his questioning of the 2020 election results and his 2021 trip to Cancun, Mexico, as Texas reeled from a historic storm.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeled
Verb
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Founders have spun up financial rails, currencies, and assets that no single party controls.—
Ben Weiss,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
With just one point out of a possible 10 during this home stand, this team now feels more akin to the one that spun nearly out of control in November and December.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Layoffs will be staggered through the site’s closure on April 29.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The pools are staggered across levels (some adults-only), and there are connecting rooms and kid-friendly food.—
Jonnie Bayfield,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Just two weeks ago, a coyote apparently swam across the bay to Alcatraz Island.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
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The pool was installed during the Administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who swam to maintain his strength after his paralysis.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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New year optimism was certainly in short supply inside Anfield as the mood lurched from restlessness to exasperation and then anger.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The line has rolled together for the last four games.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Police said their initial investigation found that Hastings was performing maintenance underneath the truck cab when the vehicle rolled backward, trapping him beneath it.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeled. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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