as in giddy
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down
the blood donor experienced a reeling sensation after standing up too quickly
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as in staggering
to move forward while swaying from side to side
got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand
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Recent Examples of reeling
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
The region is reeling from devastating wildfires, immigration raids and the upending of the state governor’s race.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The extent to which the drought impacts crop yields will most likely depend on how long conditions last, but farmers are already reeling from the consequences of these higher input costs.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
After Flemister’s death in a Bishop Ford Freeway crash earlier this year, Hongo started a foundation in her son’s name to support Chicago dance communities, which have been reeling from a slew of recent deaths.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
None of this comes as news to British Jews, still reeling from an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur last October, in which two people were killed.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
The raid left Charlotte’s Latin American population reeling but ICE agents kept up the pace statewide after the Border Patrol left, arresting an average of about 20 people per day in December, January and February.
—Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Ben Rice went deep for the fourth straight game in the second and the New York Yankees beat the reeling Kansas City Royals 7-0 to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday following a long rain delay.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
McNeill testified that the TSA is still reeling from the recent partial government shutdown.
—La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Even if Lee were sober and thinking straight, her alluring, blows-hot-and-cold Betty Jo would be impossible for a guy like Lee — reckless, reeling, distractible — to resist.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Psychologically reeling from the death of his military father, Samuel keeps dad’s dogtags close at hand and with an eventual curiosity toward his assault rifle.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
The region is reeling from devastating wildfires, immigration raids and the upending of the state governor’s race.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The extent to which the drought impacts crop yields will most likely depend on how long conditions last, but farmers are already reeling from the consequences of these higher input costs.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
After Flemister’s death in a Bishop Ford Freeway crash earlier this year, Hongo started a foundation in her son’s name to support Chicago dance communities, which have been reeling from a slew of recent deaths.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
None of this comes as news to British Jews, still reeling from an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur last October, in which two people were killed.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
The raid left Charlotte’s Latin American population reeling but ICE agents kept up the pace statewide after the Border Patrol left, arresting an average of about 20 people per day in December, January and February.
—Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Ben Rice went deep for the fourth straight game in the second and the New York Yankees beat the reeling Kansas City Royals 7-0 to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday following a long rain delay.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
McNeill testified that the TSA is still reeling from the recent partial government shutdown.
—La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeling
Adjective
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Eurodance with the bass-heavy Swedish genre EPA-dunk and 3Cha—the giddy electronic dance music from Thaiboy’s home region of Isaan in Thailand—to form a new kind of globalist hyperpop.—
Harry Thorfinn-George,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
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Their struggle has upturned the tabletop candle that illuminates the scene and any moment will surely extinguish it, effacing the giddy pattern formed by the writhing bodies and glowing, veiny bladder skin.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In New York City over the weekend, police launched an investigation into a massive street takeover in Queens that drew more than 100 vehicles in the early morning hours, with drivers spinning in circles and crowds flooding the intersection.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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In a first look at Kylie Minogue in her intimate Netflix documentary, the Australian pop icon certainly isn’t spinning around.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, addressed concerns about giving one party too much power by staggering the new authorizations out over a 0-year period.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The Powell-Herro partnership also was never able to consistently produce positive results, as the Heat was left staggering their minutes by the end of the season.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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By applying lower‑body compression, the garment helps counteract a common condition called orthostatic intolerance that causes astronauts to faint or feel dizzy following an extended mission in microgravity.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The caller hit their head and felt dizzy.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Another neighbor recalled an elevator lurching between floors.—
Elle McLogan,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile the Caliente Range — those mountains just to the west — are lurching the opposite way.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The magnetar was initially surrounded by a whirling disk of matter, funneling from its inner edge onto the stellar remnant.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Boldly returned for the second period with an exclamation point, setting up Minnesota’s tying goal by weaving around four Dallas challengers, and pulling Oettinger outside the crease, before passing to Eriksson Ek, who had an open net to hit for his third goal of the playoffs.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
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Oliva also made sure the final look never drifted too far from Taylor’s identity, weaving in subtle elements that kept it grounded in the present.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeling. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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