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
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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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Recent Examples of swirling
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
How Andreeva — so talented, so young, and sometimes so not ready for the swirling intensity of a tennis match — manages those moments, will likely make the difference between fulfilling her potential and wondering about what could have been.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 2 June 2026
This is the stuff of Grieg-like greatness, a swirling, modern epic for the ages.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
Located on the Palouse River in Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site, the waterfall drops 200 feet into a swirling bowl.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
Outside, the signature SLS duck, an oversized rubber ducky-style sculpture sitting plumb in the pool—painted in colorful swirling patterns by Saudi contemporary artist Heba Ismail—is another sign of the playful spin on luxury to come.
—Lauren Keith, Robb Report, 30 May 2026
Stanford had been the class of the field from the start, finishing stroke play at 22 under par despite the stubborn, swirling wind at La Costa.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
When the singer-songwriter Mo Sabri was growing up in East Tennessee, his Pakistani immigrant parents loved playing the swirling, rhythmic sounds of qawwali, Sufi Muslim devotional music.
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 23 May 2026
The short, rounded length still leaves plenty of room for a bright French tip and swirling flowers.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 23 May 2026
Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
As investigators renew the hunt for Lynette, speculation is swirling over where Brian may be following the mystery around his wife's disappearance.
—Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The work’s whistling sounds are activated by pouring liquid into a spout and swirling it around to create changes in atmospheric pressure within.
—Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 2 June 2026
And now, rumors are swirling around Jennifer Lopez and Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 2 June 2026
As a result, in their relative youth, these worlds are found still embedded in this natal-material swirling around in plate-like structures called protoplanetary disks.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 June 2026
The other part of the thrill is his willingness to address the controversy swirling around him.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 May 2026
All of this comes after speculation about what prenup Swift and her soon-to-be-husband, Travis Kelce, could sign has started swirling.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 28 May 2026
Questions about Wilson’s future have been swirling for weeks, and she’s been fighting off criticism for missing all 57 congressional votes between April and May, according to GovTrack.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Adjective
An unforgettable excursion is soaring over the Great Barrier Reef and Hill Inlet’s swirling silica sands on a scenic helicopter flight.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
How Andreeva — so talented, so young, and sometimes so not ready for the swirling intensity of a tennis match — manages those moments, will likely make the difference between fulfilling her potential and wondering about what could have been.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 2 June 2026
This is the stuff of Grieg-like greatness, a swirling, modern epic for the ages.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
Located on the Palouse River in Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site, the waterfall drops 200 feet into a swirling bowl.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
Outside, the signature SLS duck, an oversized rubber ducky-style sculpture sitting plumb in the pool—painted in colorful swirling patterns by Saudi contemporary artist Heba Ismail—is another sign of the playful spin on luxury to come.
—Lauren Keith, Robb Report, 30 May 2026
Stanford had been the class of the field from the start, finishing stroke play at 22 under par despite the stubborn, swirling wind at La Costa.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
When the singer-songwriter Mo Sabri was growing up in East Tennessee, his Pakistani immigrant parents loved playing the swirling, rhythmic sounds of qawwali, Sufi Muslim devotional music.
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 23 May 2026
The short, rounded length still leaves plenty of room for a bright French tip and swirling flowers.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 23 May 2026
Verb
Ready to direct and protect, both from the men and from the swirling chaos that might otherwise harm you.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
As investigators renew the hunt for Lynette, speculation is swirling over where Brian may be following the mystery around his wife's disappearance.
—Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The work’s whistling sounds are activated by pouring liquid into a spout and swirling it around to create changes in atmospheric pressure within.
—Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 2 June 2026
And now, rumors are swirling around Jennifer Lopez and Ted Lasso's Brett Goldstein.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 2 June 2026
As a result, in their relative youth, these worlds are found still embedded in this natal-material swirling around in plate-like structures called protoplanetary disks.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 June 2026
The other part of the thrill is his willingness to address the controversy swirling around him.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 May 2026
All of this comes after speculation about what prenup Swift and her soon-to-be-husband, Travis Kelce, could sign has started swirling.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 28 May 2026
Questions about Wilson’s future have been swirling for weeks, and she’s been fighting off criticism for missing all 57 congressional votes between April and May, according to GovTrack.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirling
Adjective
-
The basic idea is that when anxiety spikes, pulling out a few sensory-engaging items can stave off panic by interrupting spiraling thoughts.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Still annoyed, weirdly offended, and slightly spiraling.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At Eau Bar during early sunset, spring for a poolside lounger to catch a soul-stirring ceremony of bodu beru drummers walking the edge of a circular infinity pool, torch-lighting a fire ring backed by a fading horizon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
The Human Is Staying In The Picture (Mostly) Screenwriter and director Paul Schrader, at nearly 80 years old an unlikely technology provocateur, delivered a talk at AI on the Lot peppered with pot-stirring takes.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Local design is front and center in the lounge, including a rotating display of art and sculpture.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Other classics, both food and drink, will be rotating in and out throughout the summer-long gastronomic look back.—
Tony Sachs,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The mustache-twirling villain flees, both Half-ATs and full-on AT-AT Walkers come into play, and our hero and Grogu finish the job.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
-
Stephens never plays a mustache-twirling sadist, instead carrying himself with the unbearable confidence of a man truly convinced that his version of abuse and even murder is civilized.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
There are several spots to cool off in Treasure Valley as the temperatures rise, including Roaring Springs Water Park in Meridian, which added a new spiral water slide for the 2026 season.—
Hali Smith
June 2,
Idaho Statesman,
2 June 2026
-
The numerous bright red dots strewn around M88’s spiral arms are old stars, while the pink and blue represent star clusters and dust clouds.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The prototype was integrated with low-loss superconducting windings, a novel brushless starting mechanism, and internal cryogenic cooling that functions while spinning.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
On one side of the ball, the spinning surface moves in the same direction as the airflow, causing an increase in air velocity.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Alex Edwards kneeled on the carpet to calm down Zuri Kafuko, 3, by twisting part of her hair back in place.—
William J. Ford,
Baltimore Sun,
25 May 2026
-
Press straight down to cut the dough, without twisting the cutter, to keep the layers intact.—
Terrence Hayes,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
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 8 Jun. 2026.
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