Synonyms of reeling

reeling 1 of 2

adjective

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• giddy
• dizzy
• whirling
• woozy
• weak
• vertiginous
• dazed
• swimmy
• faint
• aswoon
• light-headed
• groggy
• confused
• befuddled
• addled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• steady
• stable
• clearheaded

reeling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of reel

1

as in spinning

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

• spinning
• swimming
• whirling
• turning
• swirling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collecting
• settling
• calming
• steadying

2

as in staggering

to move forward while swaying from side to side

got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• staggering
• lurching
• weaving
• rolling
• careening
• shuffling
• stomping
• tottering
• stumbling
• teetering
• waddling
• rocking
• swaying
• wavering
• doddering
• floundering
• wobbling
• pounding
• seesawing
• barging
• blundering
• scuffling
• stamping
• lumping
• shambling
• lumbering
• tramping
• swagging
• scuffing
• clumping
• clomping
• galumphing
• tromping

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reeling

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

The New York Yankees were still reeling from a nasty gut punch — a 1-0 loss to the rival Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on Saturday night. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

At that time, the company’s Fisher-Price, Barbie and American Girl brands were struggling to connect with changing consumer tastes and Mattel was reeling from the recent bankruptcy of Toys R Us. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026

Iranian leaders believe that the United States is reeling, that the world is sympathetic to their cause, and that their citizens support them. — Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Northern Mexico still reeling from Polo Parts of northern Mexico were still reeling from floods and wider destruction left by Polo. — Fabiola Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Early in his career, Fernando Mastrangelo entered a design scene reeling from the 2008 recession. — Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026

Wildflower opened in 2024, when the industry was crippled by shrinking studio budgets and reeling from the aftermath of twin labor strikes. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

But the fact that A&M is 2-2 and reeling after back to back losses to Kentucky and LSU made this almost too easy to see coming. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

With wars and climate catastrophes hitting a world still reeling from 7 million deaths caused by COVID-19, Shelley’s pandemic novel has perhaps never felt so relevant. — Eileen Hunt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026