reeled

past tense of reel
1
as in spun
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 reeled But Ohtani reeled himself back in to face the top of the order. Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 In 2021, more than 43% of voters supported disbanding the department as the city reeled from Floyd’s killing and the massive protests and widespread rioting that followed. ABC News, 28 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeled
Verb
  • Each time, brown leaves that had drifted from distant trees quivered and spun on the surface.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
  • After having put Brazil ahead minutes earlier, Richarlison popped a cross from Vinícius Júnior into the air, spun, and struck a spectacular acrobatic volley past Serbia’s helpless goalkeeper.
    Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Springfield staggered out of session this week with a $56 billion budget, no Bears deal and plenty of unfinished business.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
  • Major events such as Hamilton and an Issa Rae show were swiftly canceled, staff departures staggered departments and drained the organization of expertise, and ticket sales drastically declined.
    Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • After jumping a fence, Revell swam across a river and ran into the woods.
    Matt Schooley, CBS News, 10 June 2026
  • This is staggering compared to the control fish, which only swam about 12 miles (19 kilometers).
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • As the opening ceremony began with a flurry of speeches, the bus carrying Team Zambia lurched to a stop by the side of the road in southern Zimbabwe, 200 miles away.
    Ryan Lenora Brown, NPR, 14 June 2026
  • In a December 2024 crash, a bus lurched onto a sidewalk outside Curley K-8 School in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood.
    Willoughby Mariano, ProPublica, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • McQuillan, a Wake Forest recruit, went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run Saturday night as Mount Carmel rolled to an 11-2 victory over Naperville Central in the Class 4A third-place game at Slammers Stadium in Joliet.
    Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
  • The extended schedule allowed the composer ample time to compose, so the score developed as the months rolled on.
    Jon Burlingame, Variety, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeled. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

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