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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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1
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as in staggers
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of reels
Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
And years of tournament reels have proven anything can happen, particularly with top teams often leaning on younger high-end NBA prospects against older and more experienced teams.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
In a post on X-formerly-Twitter, Polymarket shared mock-up images of the establishment, which appears to be plastered wall-to-wall in news reels, stock tickers, and weather stations.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 19, Futurism, 19 Mar. 2026
There were no recruiting rankings, no highlight reels, no brand consultants evaluating market value.
—Mark J. Friedlander, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
To put the sheer magnitude of that data in perspective, if F1 were shot on 35mm film, the physical reels would make one of these scenarios possible.
—Craigh Barboza, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
Someone called Prue, who until today had remained hidden in the wardrobe-room on the first floor pedalling her sewing machine, had a chair allocated for her use in the prompt corner and a space reserved for cotton reels and safety pins on the props table in the wings.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Players had to apply through the NFL and even submitted reels or writing samples, and the league’s player engagement team then selects the most passionate of the bunch.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2026
Members of the cast have seen Anderson’s reels, and Beverley Mitchell (Lucy) even collaborated with Anderson on a video where her character goes to therapy.
—Jessica Lipsky, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Chalamet then mimics opera singing before McConaughey reels him back in.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Kansas City reels again Those arguments echo comments made two years ago.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
As the nation reels from last week’s fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good, the stars at Sunday’s 83rd Golden Globe Awards used the red carpet to protest the government agency.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2026
As another legislative session begins Tuesday, the mind reels backward to past years and the many controversies that have defined and reshaped the state’s politics.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
Now, as Minneapolis reels from yet another tragedy making national headlines, Ross is at the center of debate over whether his actions during Wednesday’s confrontation were justified.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Ho’s funeral was one of dozens that have taken place across Hong Kong over the past weeks, as the city reels from the fire that killed, among others, toddlers, elderly citizens and foreign domestic helpers hired from Indonesia and the Philippines to look after them.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
But the news comes as the country reels over an uptick in political violence following the assasination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
There are even apps where actors can upload their reels.
—Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
And years of tournament reels have proven anything can happen, particularly with top teams often leaning on younger high-end NBA prospects against older and more experienced teams.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
In a post on X-formerly-Twitter, Polymarket shared mock-up images of the establishment, which appears to be plastered wall-to-wall in news reels, stock tickers, and weather stations.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 19, Futurism, 19 Mar. 2026
There were no recruiting rankings, no highlight reels, no brand consultants evaluating market value.
—Mark J. Friedlander, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
To put the sheer magnitude of that data in perspective, if F1 were shot on 35mm film, the physical reels would make one of these scenarios possible.
—Craigh Barboza, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
Someone called Prue, who until today had remained hidden in the wardrobe-room on the first floor pedalling her sewing machine, had a chair allocated for her use in the prompt corner and a space reserved for cotton reels and safety pins on the props table in the wings.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Players had to apply through the NFL and even submitted reels or writing samples, and the league’s player engagement team then selects the most passionate of the bunch.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2026
Members of the cast have seen Anderson’s reels, and Beverley Mitchell (Lucy) even collaborated with Anderson on a video where her character goes to therapy.
—Jessica Lipsky, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
As Hawaii reels from some of the worst flooding to hit the region in decades, one good Samaritan is taking to the waterways to paddle pets left behind to safety.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Chalamet then mimics opera singing before McConaughey reels him back in.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Kansas City reels again Those arguments echo comments made two years ago.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
As the nation reels from last week’s fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good, the stars at Sunday’s 83rd Golden Globe Awards used the red carpet to protest the government agency.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2026
As another legislative session begins Tuesday, the mind reels backward to past years and the many controversies that have defined and reshaped the state’s politics.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
Now, as Minneapolis reels from yet another tragedy making national headlines, Ross is at the center of debate over whether his actions during Wednesday’s confrontation were justified.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Ho’s funeral was one of dozens that have taken place across Hong Kong over the past weeks, as the city reels from the fire that killed, among others, toddlers, elderly citizens and foreign domestic helpers hired from Indonesia and the Philippines to look after them.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
But the news comes as the country reels over an uptick in political violence following the assasination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reels
Noun
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Each hard-sided bag has 360-degree spinner wheels, a 3-in-1 cupholder, a USB port and a phone holder for ultimate convenience.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The wheels kick up a cloud of dust from the parchment-dry terrain.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The antiproton trap contains a magnetic field that spins the antiparticles in a circle, suspending them in space.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Like many Florida school districts, OCPS staggers start times to most efficiently use its school buses and drivers.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
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The first 10 minutes of the film are set in Norms, where a grungy man staggers in with a bomb, ranting about artificial intelligence.—
Fielding Buck,
Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This storm front had already spawned some potentially threatening cloud rotations in northwest Georgia and brought heavy wind and rain to anyone in its path.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
22 Mar. 2026
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Valanciunas is slow-footed and plays down the floor in pick-and-roll coverage, leaving the Nuggets more vulnerable to pick-and-pop bigs and other ripple effects of their help rotations around the floor.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Wembanyama is on the short list of MVP favorites as the league lurches toward the playoffs, a list that includes former NBA champions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC, Denver’s Nikola Jokic along with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
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After a moment of hesitation, Harington lurches forward and plants a passionate kiss on Turner, who responds in kind.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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From crowd favorite cinnamon rolls and biscuits and gravy, it may have been blown up for its shrine of 1950s nostalgia, but customers stay for the consistently good southern food.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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Dillon Candy Company, based in the south Georgia town of Boston, still makes pecan rolls and all manner of confections.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, her longtime producer, John Parrish, weaves a wicker basket of folk rock that, despite its apparent simplicity, feels—maybe for the first time—capacious enough to hold all of Harding’s contradictions.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
23 Mar. 2026
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The filmmaker weaves together the current fights for not only the land, but also for the women who inhabit the land.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The unconscious Moon twirls into your 12th House of Whispers, inviting gentle reflection and rest that helps your inner world reorganize.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
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The dance world has often based its plaudits on how spectacularly performers can defy gravity with leaps, kicks and twirls.—
Mercury News,
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reels. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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