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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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
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Recent Examples of reels
Amy Pope, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Mnookin steps in as Columbia reels from protest chaos, antisemitism scrutiny, and federal pressure.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
And because casting decisions typically happen long before a film is released, translating that work into reels and presentations is still something of a learning process.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
What To Do About Toxic Parenting While TikTok reels may celebrate parent canceling, navigating fraught relationships can be hurtful and challenging.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 21 Jan. 2026
Avoiding these highlight reels may boost your patience with your own progress and achievements.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 troops to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota, as the state reels from intensifying anti-ICE protests after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
—Courtney Kube, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026
The company has already tested personalized cartoons and reported many reels becoming viral.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
If there was an Oscar for reels, this would surely win one.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2026
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
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
Noun
In highlight reels, for example, athletes often appear to steer left or right after taking off on a jump.
—Amy Pope, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Mnookin steps in as Columbia reels from protest chaos, antisemitism scrutiny, and federal pressure.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
And because casting decisions typically happen long before a film is released, translating that work into reels and presentations is still something of a learning process.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
What To Do About Toxic Parenting While TikTok reels may celebrate parent canceling, navigating fraught relationships can be hurtful and challenging.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 21 Jan. 2026
Avoiding these highlight reels may boost your patience with your own progress and achievements.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 troops to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota, as the state reels from intensifying anti-ICE protests after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
—Courtney Kube, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026
The company has already tested personalized cartoons and reported many reels becoming viral.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
If there was an Oscar for reels, this would surely win one.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reels
Noun
-
Clean lines, an intriguing silhouette, and bold wheels give it real presence (right down to taillights that nod to the Nissan Z).—
Cyril Soliman,
The Drive,
5 Feb. 2026
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Yet after gesturing toward a promising thriller setup, the film soon begins to spin its wheels — doing little to complicate or tighten the melodrama, while only superficially probing its two principal characters as their romance is inevitably reignited.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Taken together, these features strongly suggest the object was part of a bow drill — a device that spins a shaft using a bow and string to create rapid back-and-forth rotation.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Let her courage linger while the sports calendar spins uncontrollably.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Because of the program's size, the Social Security Administration (SSA) staggers payments across the month to keep the system running smoothly.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
No plays to memorize, no rotations to execute.—
D’Joumbarey A. Moreau,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
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There were significant tactical market peaks in January or February in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2025, all of them involving momentum reversals and forced rotations as an aggravating factor.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When, at my photographer’s request, the president approaches the window of his office to open the blinds, his bodyguard lurches forward to close them.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes an unexpected event lurches family members into becoming caregivers.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cut two packages of Hawaiian rolls horizontally without separating the individual rolls and place the bottom halves on baking sheets.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
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Trays of burgers, fries and lobster rolls circled the room as guests such as Martha Stewart, Suki Waterhouse, Kelsea Ballerini, Leslie Bibb, Supriya Ganesh and Ava Phillippe mingled throughout the restaurant.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The plot weaves together elements of romance, family drama and feminist struggle against the backdrop of a space walk gone terribly awry.—
Brianne Kane,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
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This rom-com weaves 1990s office culture into its fashion narrative.—
Tonya Blazio-Licorish,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The swishy Zesica Sleeveless Maxi Dress checks all my boxes, as the asymmetrical top is designed to sit lower on one side, and slightly flares out into a flowy pleated skirt that twirls nicely and allows for a full range of movement.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
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To be frank, Jarrett’s rush pattern may have short-circuited the Next Gen Stats GPS system with more twists, twirls and figure-eights than an Olympic figure skating routine.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reels. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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