Synonyms of reels

reels 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wheels
• rotations
• spins
• rolls
• twirls
• curves
• revolutions
• curls
• twists
• gyrations
• coils
• pirouettes
• circles
• spirals
• circuits
• whirls
• rounds
• rings
• orbits
• whorls
• circulations
• eddies
• swirls

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spins
• swims
• whirls
• turns
• swirls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collects
• calms
• settles
• steadies

2

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

• staggers
• lurches
• weaves
• rolls
• shuffles
• stomps
• totters
• stumbles
• waddles
• rocks
• teeters
• careens
• dodders
• sways
• seesaws
• wobbles
• wavers
• barges
• stamps
• flounders
• clumps
• pounds
• blunders
• clomps
• shambles
• scuffs
• lumps
• tramps
• swags
• lumbers
• galumphs
• scuffles
• tromps

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reels

Noun

The chant, which deployed Modi’s first name, quickly spawned the kind of meme-like variations typical of viral reels. — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026

The BookTok community quickly honed in on Iacono for the role of Liz’s neighbor Wes Bennett, creating reels of the dream casting before the adaptation was announced. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 July 2026

Protesters covered events in real time, filming Instagram reels, sharing videos and memes – often laced with dark humor and jibes at Modi – and posting updates from the protest site. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 July 2026

Those containers were aluminum and made to hold reels of film. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026

The audio was rebuilt from the original three-track 35mm pre-mix reels, restoring clarity and dynamic range long lost in previous versions. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 24 July 2026

Whether Shuttle Drive holds up on real grass rather than demo reels is the open question, but on paper at least, TerraMow has found something new to say about a very crowded lawn. — New Atlas, 22 July 2026

The figures represent unduplicated individual viewers who watched a title for at least 30 minutes, and exclude overseas viewership as well as short-form video content such as reels and microdrama. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 July 2026

On top of that, the reels weigh hundreds of pounds and need to be loaded with a forklift. — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Verb

More than 30 civilians have been killed in American strikes on Iran in recent days, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said today, as the country reels from yet another night of bombardment. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

As Venezuela reels from twin quakes that killed more than 2,295 people, acting leader Delcy Rodríguez mounts her first defense of the response. — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

This wrenches the chromosomes apart into two sets and reels them to opposite ends of the cytoplasm sea. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026

After Saturday night’s shooting that left two dead, neighbors are voicing their frustrations — and fears — as the community reels from another shooting that has left two more teenagers dead. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2026

There’s a lot to digest as the hockey world reels from the stunning Dylan Larkin news that came out Thursday, his trade request putting the Detroit Red Wings in an unenviable spot. — Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 5 June 2026

As America reels from 9/11, something resonates within Franny and an unexpected tenderness begins to bloom. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 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