as in spiraling
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1
as in stirring
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly
kept swirling her lemonade until the ice had melted and it was completely watered down
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in rotating
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis
swirled her skirts as she danced the tango
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swirling
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
And with Andrew already under investigation and suggestions that Fergie could come next swirling, that puts the princesses in a complicated position.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
Stealing a scene later is Will Poulter as a Christie Smith general store manager, styled in head-to-toe green and a swirling shock of hair like a bitchy queen out of Oz.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
And, everywhere, warm and cold fronts rub against each other, setting off still more swirling changes.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse Surrounded by the swirling storms of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo is striving to survive after a terrible accident takes her mother’s life.
—Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
The few cars that attempted to drive through the flood sputtered and died, bonnet-deep in swirling pondweed.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
The swirling, whirling mass approaches like a steam train, picking up thousands of tons of matter on its descent, throwing clouds of snow into the air as its gathers speeds of up to 130 kph (80 mph).
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
For a textured finish, Garcia suggests, start with a cat-eye base, and layer cured, clear finishing gel in soft, swirling lines across the nail.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 19 Feb. 2026
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
That's the debate swirling around a Cuban program that sends tens of thousands of doctors and other medical professionals abroad to care for people.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
There are also swirling questions about Self’s future given heart issues that surfaced again in January and prevented him from making a conference road trip.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
To Müller-Pohl, that match in particular reveals some of the hopes swirling around the technology.
—Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 23 Mar. 2026
Friendships ask for listening and good questions as the Sun conjoins spiritual Neptune in your 11th House of Communities, swirling inspiration into shared purpose.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
With rumors swirling about other programs showing interest in him, Elko has proven his commitment to building in Aggieland.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Arsenal’s frustration continued as the game wore on, with a palpable tension swirling around the Emirates until those dying stages.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
And, centering the dressing room, there’s the swirling bronze-and-wood staircase designed by French artist Patrice Dangel specifically for the space.
—Dana Thomas, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Its swirling indie-pop hooks and jammy prog-rock ideas are practically written with the vision of people dancing around you, their hands raised in the air.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
And with Andrew already under investigation and suggestions that Fergie could come next swirling, that puts the princesses in a complicated position.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
Stealing a scene later is Will Poulter as a Christie Smith general store manager, styled in head-to-toe green and a swirling shock of hair like a bitchy queen out of Oz.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
And, everywhere, warm and cold fronts rub against each other, setting off still more swirling changes.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse Surrounded by the swirling storms of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo is striving to survive after a terrible accident takes her mother’s life.
—Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
The few cars that attempted to drive through the flood sputtered and died, bonnet-deep in swirling pondweed.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
The swirling, whirling mass approaches like a steam train, picking up thousands of tons of matter on its descent, throwing clouds of snow into the air as its gathers speeds of up to 130 kph (80 mph).
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
For a textured finish, Garcia suggests, start with a cat-eye base, and layer cured, clear finishing gel in soft, swirling lines across the nail.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
With reports swirling these past few weeks, the corporation confirmed Wednesday that former Google EMEA chief Matt Brittin will take on the most powerful role in British broadcasting, replacing Tim Davie.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
That's the debate swirling around a Cuban program that sends tens of thousands of doctors and other medical professionals abroad to care for people.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
There are also swirling questions about Self’s future given heart issues that surfaced again in January and prevented him from making a conference road trip.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
To Müller-Pohl, that match in particular reveals some of the hopes swirling around the technology.
—Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 23 Mar. 2026
Friendships ask for listening and good questions as the Sun conjoins spiritual Neptune in your 11th House of Communities, swirling inspiration into shared purpose.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
With rumors swirling about other programs showing interest in him, Elko has proven his commitment to building in Aggieland.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Arsenal’s frustration continued as the game wore on, with a palpable tension swirling around the Emirates until those dying stages.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
And, centering the dressing room, there’s the swirling bronze-and-wood staircase designed by French artist Patrice Dangel specifically for the space.
—Dana Thomas, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirling
Adjective
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Violent confrontations targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota are being driven by outside actors exploiting chaos, not organic protest, according to a protest insider warning that the situation is rapidly spiraling.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Demonstrations broke out over the near-collapse of the rial and spiraling economic conditions but grew to become a larger movement against the regime.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The moody Moon in your 6th House of Effort opposes fiery Mars in your 12th House of Thoughts, stirring urgency around upcoming deadlines, outdated routines, or daily goals.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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When the ale is nearing a boil, put it in another pitcher, pour it very gradually into the pitcher containing the egg mix, while stirring briskly to prevent the eggs from curdling.—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The kitchen runs a very cool rotating culinary collaboration with chefs from Rome’s most avant-garde eateries, alongside pop-up events and live music nights.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Arrange pork chops on top of vegetables and continue to roast until pork registers 145 degrees and vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through roasting.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The world of dance has leapt long in fashion’s collective imagination—but the reign of the ballet flat may, finally, be twirling off.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
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To stack the deck further, and to spur their champion into action, the writers throw in a sinister trio of private-equity investors who might as well arrive twirling their mustaches.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Given how baseball thrives off nostalgia, spiral foul poles don’t exactly fit.—
Abbey Mastracco,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Its rampant star formation was triggered in part by the gravitational influence exerted by the nearby galaxy NGC 5195, the glowing core of which can be seen shining at one end of the Whirlpool Galaxy's great spiral structure.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The artist who goes only by the mononym Naoshi is a master at spinning tiny grains of sand into something grand.—
Leigh-Ann Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
With this slackline, both ends were attached to balloons and moved up and down, side to side, while spinning.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Footage shows the group acquiescing to the police instructions when an officer in plain clothes – possibly indicating a special police unit – grabbed Salman’s hand, twisting it and causing a fracture in the wrist.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
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Mateta hit the bar after twisting his body to reach Munoz’s cross, which had been parried by goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The main performance is scheduled to include aerial acrobatics, bondage, burlesque and drag performers from groups such as The Dragonettes, AKArts Collective and others with hypnotic live looping and vocal music from Morgan Sorne.—
Anne Schrager,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Feb. 2026
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Tight baseline battles, pressure from Shelton and counterattacks from Ruud, using the violent topspin of those big looping forehands.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirling. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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