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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
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Recent Examples of reeling
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Bao Phi, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
His Trojans, after an impressive 12-1 start, were in a tenuous spot after its first two games of the new year, reeling from two blowout losses and stuck on the road for 10 days.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The fatal shooting comes amid a turbulent time for the state, which has been reeling from a welfare scandal.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
But some people in the hockey world are still reeling from their relationship reveal, and the backlash—led by popular hockey podcast Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement—is getting louder.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Jan. 2026
And many in the Chicago area, where residents are still reeling from more than two months of chaos during Operation Midway Blitz, have revived a legal question.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Minnesota has found itself at the epicenter of the political world, reeling from tensions sparked by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shooting a woman — an incident that renewed fierce debate over immigration, law enforcement and federal overreach.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
One of the hottest teams in the league during the first half of the season, the Colts were sent reeling last week by the Steelers.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
The Context Jankavski's sudden death has left her fans reeling.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Bao Phi Minnesota was already reeling from other recent tragedies.
—Bao Phi, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
His Trojans, after an impressive 12-1 start, were in a tenuous spot after its first two games of the new year, reeling from two blowout losses and stuck on the road for 10 days.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The fatal shooting comes amid a turbulent time for the state, which has been reeling from a welfare scandal.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
But some people in the hockey world are still reeling from their relationship reveal, and the backlash—led by popular hockey podcast Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement—is getting louder.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 11 Jan. 2026
And many in the Chicago area, where residents are still reeling from more than two months of chaos during Operation Midway Blitz, have revived a legal question.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Minnesota has found itself at the epicenter of the political world, reeling from tensions sparked by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shooting a woman — an incident that renewed fierce debate over immigration, law enforcement and federal overreach.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026
One of the hottest teams in the league during the first half of the season, the Colts were sent reeling last week by the Steelers.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
The Context Jankavski's sudden death has left her fans reeling.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeling
Adjective
-
Parrish, giddy with excitement, led us into the water.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
-
There would be no third consecutive title, no hoisting of the championship cup over heads, no giddy laughter or shouts of joy.—
Tris Wykes,
Twin Cities,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After more than a week of silence on the slopes, the lifts are spinning again at Telluride Ski Resort.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Far from turning on her, the audience awards her with a head-spinning third applause break in just 50 seconds.—
John Roy,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cheng likes to build muni bond ladders, which means staggering the maturity dates of multiple bonds.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
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To get through the season and the playoffs, staggering the minutes of Green and Horford is logical, even with Quintin Post picking up some center minutes.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Signs of dehydration include dry mouth and throat, infrequent urination and feeling dizzy when standing up.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Some people may feel dizzy or faint when working out in a fasted state, which can be dangerous if lifting heavy weights.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
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The midterm blue wave backlash is gathering, with the generic ballot lurching in the Democrats' favor and Trump’s popularity cratering.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Each program looks at specific themes by weaving together various stories, poems and sometimes music.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
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Guests are also encouraged to organically spotlight their own beauty, beverage or lifestyle brands during the episode, weaving commerce into the format without overt ad breaks.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeling. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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