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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
In November, Jackson terminated Gatlin for swindling millions of dollars from the Foundation as executives privately reeled over her betrayal of the hospital system’s fundraising arm, which raises tens of millions to benefit Jackson’s patients.
—
Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
While Fallon reeled — and flopped on the floor — over this reveal, Swift put her head in her hands.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
On the other side of the world, as the Kirk story preoccupied Americans, Nepal reeled from a spasm of violence that erupted when the government tried to ban social media platforms.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Many movie studios began releasing films direct to streaming during the pandemic, and even though that’s been reeled back significantly, the damage was done.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
While Fallon reeled — and flopped on the floor — over this reveal, Swift put her head in her hands.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
On the other side of the world, as the Kirk story preoccupied Americans, Nepal reeled from a spasm of violence that erupted when the government tried to ban social media platforms.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Many movie studios began releasing films direct to streaming during the pandemic, and even though that’s been reeled back significantly, the damage was done.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeled
Verb
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The material is washed, processed locally into balls, flakes and/or pellets that meet European industrial standards, and then spun into a high-grade thread, without blending with virgin plastic or chemical additives.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
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Fabrics are shredded, cleaned, and spun into new yarn.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The next cuts will be staggered — 10 more workers will be laid off later this month, followed by 30 in December, and 10 in late January.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Oct. 2025
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They are elected to four-year terms, with elections staggered every two years.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The archives stated that after the attack, more than 1,000 POWs ended up in the water as the ship sank, and many of them swam toward land, where Japanese military recaptured a lot.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Oct. 2025
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Carter swam inside behind Ojomo and had a clear path to Mayfield.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hollywood lurched into a fresh wave of existential panic this week after Deadline, notating an otherwise dry industry panel on Saturday, September 27, seized on a stray remark.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
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The escalator lurched to a halt just after the pair got on.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The scene was partly improvised, in the sense that White didn’t know what the song was going to be before cameras rolled.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
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Even before the camera rolled, Burns, in jeans and a sweater, was bursting with facts.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeled. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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