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
Kyle Wagner, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
That moment has lived for decades on sports blooper reels.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
All of this has been a dream as her brain reels from an overdose on the Percocet provided to her by Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje).
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 1 June 2026
Exempt items include ammo, firearms, bows, arrows, wrist guards, muzzles, silencers, rods and reels of $75 or less, tackle boxes of $30 or less, tents of $200 or less, sleeping bags, hammocks, camping stoves, camp chairs of $50 or less, and lanterns and flashlights $30 or less.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2026
Like Colon and Buehrle, Hoerner’s fantastic play will be shown on highlight reels for a long time.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
The prolific highlight reels showcase Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s clutch shots and timely passes.
—Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
One of those reels was from a six-year-old girl named Elisa.
—Blake Crisses, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2026
The app analyzed Instagram reels of 129 major North American lakes to find the top 10 most Instagrammable lakes to go fishing.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2026
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 2026
Trump is withdrawing his pick to lead the National Park Service as the agency reels from mass firings, exhibit removals and an ongoing leadership vacuum with no permanent director.
—Matthew Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
Win or lose, the plays will be clipped incessantly, jammed into highlight reels or viral tweets, and B-roll of fans flooding the streets past subway stops adorned in Knicks colors and Timberlands will be plastered all over a thousand documentaries.
—Kyle Wagner, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026
That moment has lived for decades on sports blooper reels.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
All of this has been a dream as her brain reels from an overdose on the Percocet provided to her by Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje).
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 1 June 2026
Exempt items include ammo, firearms, bows, arrows, wrist guards, muzzles, silencers, rods and reels of $75 or less, tackle boxes of $30 or less, tents of $200 or less, sleeping bags, hammocks, camping stoves, camp chairs of $50 or less, and lanterns and flashlights $30 or less.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2026
Like Colon and Buehrle, Hoerner’s fantastic play will be shown on highlight reels for a long time.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
The prolific highlight reels showcase Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s clutch shots and timely passes.
—Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
One of those reels was from a six-year-old girl named Elisa.
—Blake Crisses, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2026
The app analyzed Instagram reels of 129 major North American lakes to find the top 10 most Instagrammable lakes to go fishing.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2026
Verb
As America reels from 9/11, something resonates within Franny and an unexpected tenderness begins to bloom.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 2026
Trump is withdrawing his pick to lead the National Park Service as the agency reels from mass firings, exhibit removals and an ongoing leadership vacuum with no permanent director.
—Matthew Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reels
Noun
-
Four wheels moves the body, two wheels moves the soul.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Before Bret realizes his daughter's foot-content creator career dream is a jest for the cameras, the loving father spins his wheels, recovering from his surprise to even manage encouragement.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
As the crocodile spins, the prey experiences immense torsional and shear forces.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The qubits work by trapping individual electrons in silicon structures, where the electrons’ spins store information.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Residents Medical arranges rotations with careful attention to specialty alignment.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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Christian Petersen / Getty Images NBC News analyzed the average ages of NBA champions’ playoff rotations since 2016, and San Antonio would be the youngest team to win a title — out-young-ing last year’s Oklahoma City Thunder.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
2 June 2026
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By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
And speaking of lobster rolls, Perkins Cove’s Lobster Shack has some of the freshest around and is also known for its traditional clam chowder.—
Kira Turnbull,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
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Other unique menu items include caviar served with chips or chicken nuggets, a 42-ounce tomahawk steak and Parker House rolls accompanied by a beef tallow butter candle.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
This new vision of luxury remains firmly rooted in faultless service and astounding architectural design, but also weaves in a profound connection to place and the thrill of experiencing it just as the world is starting to sit up and take notice.—
Lauren Keith,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
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This narrative weaves hijras into the sacred narrative of Rama and gives them pride of place that is yet out of place.—
Charles Preston,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Makar tested out his skating with some twirls at the end of the first and returned for the second.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Reels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reels. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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