SPINNING Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

spinning

verb

present participle of spin

as in rotating

to move in circles around an axis or center spinning on its axis, the Earth makes one complete rotation every 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in swimming

to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around my head spun as I contemplated all the possible problems this restructuring could cause

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in twirling

to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis spun the child around until he was hopelessly dizzy

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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 spinning Researchers in Germany have developed a new drone interceptor that uses thin metal chains to disable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) midair by tangling their spinning rotors. —

Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 6 May 2026 Gordon says United may be spinning the story. —

Tara Lynch, CBS News, 6 May 2026 The Long Island Bar While not featured in the movie, Andy is seen spinning outside the entryway of this Brooklyn spot with her boyfriend in the film's trailer, according to Eater. —

Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026 The Padres took two of three from the Dodgers at Petco Park last August to briefly take the lead in the NL West, only to spend the rest of the season spinning their wheels on the days the Dodgers lost. —

Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026 In the winter, the direction reverses — spinning clockwise at a low speed to circulate warm air that rises to the ceiling. —

Ryan Brennan may 4, Sacbee.com, 4 May 2026 In the middle of it all was the trophy, spinning slowly. —

Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026 Off the coast of Rhode IslandAP — Offshore wind turbines roughly three times the height of the Statue of Liberty were spinning far off the coast of Rhode Island on Thursday, sending clean electricity to the region. —

Jennifer McDermott, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026 Booth, Guiteau, Czolgosz, Oswald must all be spinning in their graves! —

Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spinning

Verb

In July, the European Union’s rotating Council Presidency will issue official communications in the Irish language, alongside English, in a historic first.

— Big Think, Big Think, 4 May 2026
At the Venice Biennale, Eshetu is showing The Garden of the Broken-Hearted (2026), a new work that revolves around an olive tree mounted on a rotating dais—with a video of the tree projected onto the tree itself.

— Emmanuel Iduma, ARTnews.com, 4 May 2026