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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swirling
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Lowery manifests that vision as a swirling tangle of red fabric that acquires an almost corporeal form, a mesmerizing jolt of color in the sumptuous darkness of DP Andrew Droz Palermo’s visuals (Rina Yang shot the concert scenes).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Under the exquisite surface is something quite moving, a grieving family grappling with the kinds of big, swirling, complicated feelings that make life hard and art great.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Takumi Matsuzawa Matsuzawa studies turbulence, or the chaotic motions of swirling fluids.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Augusta National can still take a bite out of anyone with enough swirling gusts to bring indecision, or bad shots that wind up in the wrong spot.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Strong winds carried thick, swirling clouds of sand and dust across the area as the bride and groom were holding hands amid their photo shoot.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Scientists have now made this possible by creating optical tornadoes (also called optical vortices)—tiny, swirling structures of light inside a microscopic system.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
Fincke identified himself late last month as the one who was sick to end the swirling public speculation.
—Ben Kelly, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026
Questions have been swirling about whether Cunningham would caucus — join party meetings at the legislature — with Democrats or join Republicans.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Speculation began swirling after flirty messages between Harry and Mail on Sunday journalist Charlotte Griffiths were revealed during his unlawful information gathering court case against the outlet’s publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 3 May 2026
One legitimate question swirling is whether enough voters will get to it by the time Emmy ballots are cast.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 May 2026
Now every aspect, all day, every day, is swirling in a tornado of vociferous opinion and mockery.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 May 2026
The district’s agreement with CTU had been subject to some debate, with concerns swirling around curriculum and staffing.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Lubchansky’s graphic novel is vivid and delightful, full of noodly limbs, swirling tentacles, and cartoon blood and guts.
—Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
There’s a lot of controversy swirling around surveillance technology, and Atlanta is a hotbed of it.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The news comes amid swirling reports and speculation about a number of cases.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Lowery manifests that vision as a swirling tangle of red fabric that acquires an almost corporeal form, a mesmerizing jolt of color in the sumptuous darkness of DP Andrew Droz Palermo’s visuals (Rina Yang shot the concert scenes).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Under the exquisite surface is something quite moving, a grieving family grappling with the kinds of big, swirling, complicated feelings that make life hard and art great.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Takumi Matsuzawa Matsuzawa studies turbulence, or the chaotic motions of swirling fluids.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Augusta National can still take a bite out of anyone with enough swirling gusts to bring indecision, or bad shots that wind up in the wrong spot.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Strong winds carried thick, swirling clouds of sand and dust across the area as the bride and groom were holding hands amid their photo shoot.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Scientists have now made this possible by creating optical tornadoes (also called optical vortices)—tiny, swirling structures of light inside a microscopic system.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
Fincke identified himself late last month as the one who was sick to end the swirling public speculation.
—Ben Kelly, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
There's everything from resentment to jealousy, favouritism, and deceit swirling around in a boiling-hot cauldron where fair is foul and foul is fair.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 6 May 2026
Questions have been swirling about whether Cunningham would caucus — join party meetings at the legislature — with Democrats or join Republicans.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
Speculation began swirling after flirty messages between Harry and Mail on Sunday journalist Charlotte Griffiths were revealed during his unlawful information gathering court case against the outlet’s publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 3 May 2026
One legitimate question swirling is whether enough voters will get to it by the time Emmy ballots are cast.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 May 2026
Now every aspect, all day, every day, is swirling in a tornado of vociferous opinion and mockery.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 May 2026
The district’s agreement with CTU had been subject to some debate, with concerns swirling around curriculum and staffing.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Lubchansky’s graphic novel is vivid and delightful, full of noodly limbs, swirling tentacles, and cartoon blood and guts.
—Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
There’s a lot of controversy swirling around surveillance technology, and Atlanta is a hotbed of it.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 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
-
But those seemed better suited to people who wanted to win hearts and minds through stirring oratory.—
Eli Durst,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Cover salad; chill until flavors meld, at least 1 hour or up to 3 days, stirring occasionally.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
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
Verb
-
Stunning bicolor blooms dangle in clusters, twirling their ruffled petals like ballerinas.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
-
These problems are so much more than any one mustache-twirling villain could ever hope to be.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The star was dipped in a rainbow of colors from her décolletage down to the spiral train of her body-hugging dress with fringe falling down the cuffs of the long-sleeve gown.—
Beatrice Dupuy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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The former Sidos space has been transformed into a restaurant with neon signs, faux greenery, tapestries depicting temples and spiral light fixtures.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
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Banda’s first goal came in the 33rd minute with her back to the goal, controlling a header from Rafaelle and twisting around to slot it home for her sixth goal of the season to cut the lead to 2-1.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
For a second Emily stood there on the porch, twisting up her mouth, as if sucking on the words before speaking them.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
1 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
-
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 11 May. 2026.
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