as in spiraling
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 swirling
Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Walls and floors are white, while flashes of color and texture appear in the form of chubby bouclé sofas and chairs or swirling rugs covered in Burberry’s signature shade of deep blue.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Amid the swirling coaching search rumors, Kiffin landed some major contract news with Ole Miss on Saturday.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
That same day, the moon will reach its first-quarter phase in Aquarius, reminding us to remain objective amidst the swirling intensity brought on by the sun’s journey through Scorpio.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Cook, stirring and swirling constantly, until the garlic is tender and fragrant, about 7 minutes.
—Kate Bradshaw, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025
Cook, stirring and swirling constantly, until the garlic is tender and fragrant, about 7 minutes.
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
The contest began as a defensive battle, with an early kickoff along with swirling winds contributing to a scoreless first quarter.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
The experience will showcase over 300 of Van Gogh's most famous works, filling a 30,000 square-foot space with the artist's famous swirling brushstrokes.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
There's plenty of headlines swirling before Game 1 begins Friday at Rogers Centre.
—Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
One kayak was lost, swirling around in an ocean whirlpool.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Due to the Doppler effect, the speedy gas swirling towards Earth glows blue, while the receding gas glows red.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
Wash the rice, swirling it around with your fingers, and then carefully pour out the starchy water.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Wide receiver Chris Olave is another name swirling in trade speculation, while players like defensive end Cam Jordan and linebacker Demario Davis could be viewed as trade candidates as well.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The Duffer Brothers confirmed in a new interview with Empire that despite rumors swirling, Munson’s story ended in the show’s fourth season.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
Not so long ago, questions were swirling about the prospects of the F1 movie, which starred Brad Pitt and Damson Idris.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The prudent way forward ought then to be to read today’s many swirling war stories with greater acuity—or even to learn how to write an altogether different story.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Walls and floors are white, while flashes of color and texture appear in the form of chubby bouclé sofas and chairs or swirling rugs covered in Burberry’s signature shade of deep blue.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Amid the swirling coaching search rumors, Kiffin landed some major contract news with Ole Miss on Saturday.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
That same day, the moon will reach its first-quarter phase in Aquarius, reminding us to remain objective amidst the swirling intensity brought on by the sun’s journey through Scorpio.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Cook, stirring and swirling constantly, until the garlic is tender and fragrant, about 7 minutes.
—Kate Bradshaw, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025
Cook, stirring and swirling constantly, until the garlic is tender and fragrant, about 7 minutes.
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
The contest began as a defensive battle, with an early kickoff along with swirling winds contributing to a scoreless first quarter.
—Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
The experience will showcase over 300 of Van Gogh's most famous works, filling a 30,000 square-foot space with the artist's famous swirling brushstrokes.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Some have likened the controversy surrounding Savin's display of old-time mobsters to the debate swirling around old statues of Confederate generals.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
There's plenty of headlines swirling before Game 1 begins Friday at Rogers Centre.
—Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
One kayak was lost, swirling around in an ocean whirlpool.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Due to the Doppler effect, the speedy gas swirling towards Earth glows blue, while the receding gas glows red.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
Wash the rice, swirling it around with your fingers, and then carefully pour out the starchy water.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Wide receiver Chris Olave is another name swirling in trade speculation, while players like defensive end Cam Jordan and linebacker Demario Davis could be viewed as trade candidates as well.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The Duffer Brothers confirmed in a new interview with Empire that despite rumors swirling, Munson’s story ended in the show’s fourth season.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
Not so long ago, questions were swirling about the prospects of the F1 movie, which starred Brad Pitt and Damson Idris.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirling
Verb
-
Without wiping Dutch oven clean, add onions; cook over medium-high, stirring often, until softened and beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Cook the beef until brown, stirring occasionally to break up the meat into pistachio-sized bites.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With over 60 flavors and rotating seasonal releases, choosing which of the company's ice cream to bring home can make the freezer aisle at the Piggly Wiggly feel like the final round of a high-pressure, high-stakes game show.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The venue will also hold a regular rotating residency in swing jazz with The Flood, The Sazerac 5, The Micro Brew Swing Band, and Old Sam & The Teardrops.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After spinning, flipping and twirling their hearts out, the pair received a score of 34 from the judges.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Other photos showed just the mom and her daughter twirling together alone.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This track has more spiral turns than any other track previously created by Andretti.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
-
His existence as an unremarkable man is overturned, and as things spiral violently out of control, he is forced to flee and change his life completely in a movie that rides the new wave of French horror.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
By comparison, Seoul Station tells us more about how the zombie virus began while also spinning a tight, impactful story centered on three compelling characters.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The trailer tees up his infatuation rom-com style before spinning into explosive action.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The research team pointed out that mapping the material’s performance onto an Ashby chart highlights twisting metamaterials as a promising class of mechanically adaptive, crashworthy materials for advanced protection systems in automotive, rail, aerospace, and defense applications.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Dueling water coaster The water coaster teased for Magic Mountain’s Hurricane Harbor water park would feature a side-by-side inner tube race through twisting drops and high-speed turns.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Key qualities are the multicolor LED lights and sound machine functions (30 non-looping sounds, by the way).—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Following the close pass, 2025 FA22 will continue its 668-day looping path through the inner solar system that takes it well beyond the orbit of Mars.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With goal difference not a factor in this three-match format, there was no incentive for Miami to push forward in the final period, and Nashville never looked like turning the contest around.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
But Drew Mestekmaker and North Texas’ high-flying offense wouldn’t be denied, turning a three-point deficit midway through the third quarter into a 34-point road victory, keeping their College Football Playoff hopes alive.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirling. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share