reels 1 of 2

plural of reel
as in wheels
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside

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reels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of reel
1
as in spins
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

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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 reels
Noun
Over the years, many have discovered Baahubali through TV, streaming, reels, memes, and, more recently, after the global success of RRR. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025 Airtel and Perplexity followed this up with intensive campaigns on social media platforms, enlisting leading Indian influencers who posted reels promoting the use-cases for the free AI tool. Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025 Most movie theaters show films using digital projectors, rather than physical film reels. Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025 Social media users started pairing the audio with their trending reels, and the rest is history. Sarah Scott, Parents, 29 Oct. 2025 Winners will be notified via Instagram and their reels will be showcased on AmPav’s platforms. Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2025 Some of her research comprises little more than yearbooks’ blooper reels, and that’s all right by me. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 His clips are pretty rudimentary tributes to guys like Thomas Sankara, the former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, shouting them out with highlight reels and songs by 100 gecs and Jersey club collective TwerkNation28. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025 The song started appearing in sports highlight reels, including those for Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball. Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
Jamaica reels after Hurricane Melissa slams into the island, severely damaging roads and hospitals. Christian Orozco, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025 The mythology of entrepreneurship is everywhere, from TED Talks and Instagram reels to investor decks glowing with vision. Anuradha Gupta, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 As Wells Fargo reels from revelations that its mistake cost hundreds of people their homes, the bank is blaming the problem on faulty computer software. Deon Roberts, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025 The trial starts at a time when the nation reels from another assassination, the one of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025 His comments come as South Korea reels from the raids – one of the largest by US immigration enforcement agencies in recent years, and which threatens to create a rift between two close partners that have long cooperated on military and economic matters. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025 As for what a Glee reboot would look like, the mind reels. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025 But while storms remain unpredictable, this year may see abnormally dry conditions persist into September, as the state still reels from a series of devastating wildfires last year that led to the death of a Wethersfield firefighter. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025 Meanwhile, desserts such as Hawaiian butter mochi and Indonesian cenil captivate a new generation of pastry chefs with TikToks and reels awash with jiggles, squishes, and bounces. Cathy Erway, Saveur, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reels
Noun
  • In video footage captured, the reptile can be seen slithering in between the front wheels of the car in search of an entry point underneath.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
  • With its sleek, minimalist design and smooth spinner wheels, this bag gives an aesthetic upgrade to your travel game.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Michelle spins a long and complicated tale, but insists Teddy was wrong about the Andromedans trying to infiltrate and poison humanity.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Shai Fargian, corporate executive chef at Calle Sol, spins that take into something more primal.
    Timothy DePeugh, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The logistical feat those intrepid women accomplished staggers the mind of any contemporary author.
    Adrian Miller, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
  • For his part, Gonzalez staggers outside and falls to his knees.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Oilers enjoyed good special teams this month, partly due to using McDavid and Draisaitl as regulars in both rotations.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • The goal and focus of Brown's offense are to get everyone involved and force defenses to make more rotations and decisions, rather than keeping the offense predictable and easier to solve for defenders.
    Ricardo Sandoval, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But as the shutdown lurches through its fifth week, and legislators direct blame at each other, food pantries across the Kansas City area are left to grapple with the fallout.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Despite that notable change, watching One Battle After Another is much like the experience of reading Pynchon, who lurches from high comedy to stomach-turning naturalism and punctuates plot-heavy sequences with little grace notes of character portraiture.
    Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • All entrees include salad, soup, rolls and butter, corn or green beans, a choice of potato, a choice of one dessert, milk or coffee.
    Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Bust out the cereal, cinnamon rolls and coffee.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Directed by Kewsong Lee Artistic Director Lear deBessonet (Once Upon a Mattress, Into the Woods), the musical weaves fictional narratives with real historical figures and events.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The Gran Vilaya Trek weaves a tapestry of natural and cultural wonders, winding through more than 30 miles of ancient cloud forests and pre-Incan archaeological remains.
    Ally Jaksen, Outside, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Plus, the twirls on the cup are also inspired by the garlands and velvet ribbons that the coffee shops hang up for the holidays.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Her twirls and spins are more careful, as befits a septuagenarian, and each was cheered enthusiastically by a crowd urging her on.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reels. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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