swirls 1 of 2

Definition of swirlsnext
present tense third-person singular of swirl
1
as in stirs
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

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2
as in twirls
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

swirls

2 of 2

noun

plural of swirl

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 swirls
Verb
To load the product onto the brush, Barnes swirls the tool into the pan twice and taps it twice to prevent fallout. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025 The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 But as the trial date approaches and uncertainty swirls over what the lawsuit could mean for the future of stock car racing, many of the team owners expressed a feeling of urgency to see the litigation resolved and indicated the current charter system was vital for their continued existence. Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2025 Energy has had a tremendous five-year run, but investors have been cautious in 2025 as uncertainty swirls around policymakers. Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirls
Verb
  • Her decision stirs conflicts with her husband (Gael García Bernal), daughter (Noomi Rapace), and AI assistant (Beanie Feldstein), revealing the humorous complexity of their relationships.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Michaelson asked Fisher about a particular conversation between the two former Lakers that still stirs strong emotions for the 18-year NBA veteran.
    Monica Haider, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Shauna Martel, a teaching assistant at the Osher Map Library twirls a massive globe around and points to Australia.
    Jackie Northam, NPR, 7 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The dirt of the desert is circling around in little eddies as the wind blends it together with the starlight.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
  • In a more complicated setup, gentle currents might merge into whirlpools and eddies.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • As laundry expert Bree Uebergang explains, the key variations in the two cycles mainly comes down to the amount of agitation involved as the machine washes your items.
    Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
  • My one gripe with trench coats is that the tawny beige shade washes me out.
    Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The skater actually rotates four and a half times, in less than a second.
    Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The digital display automatically rotates when the heater is used horizontally, a small but thoughtful touch for its dual-orientation concept.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Platters of sashimi, soft black cod, mini wagyu burgers, and rolls of sushi feature on the extensive menu.
    Sophie Knight, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
  • That means that millions of people would be disenfranchised and would have to go through multiple hurdles to get back on the rolls.
    Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Stafford, who turns 38 on Saturday, worked through a back issue that sidelined him for all of training camp and passed for a league-best 46 touchdowns and 4,707 yards.
    Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Leavitt turns the tables on media outrage as FBI seizes Fulton election documents.
    , FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Clean lines, an intriguing silhouette, and bold wheels give it real presence (right down to taillights that nod to the Nissan Z).
    Cyril Soliman, The Drive, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Yet after gesturing toward a promising thriller setup, the film soon begins to spin its wheels — doing little to complicate or tighten the melodrama, while only superficially probing its two principal characters as their romance is inevitably reignited.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swirls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirls. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

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