swirls 1 of 2

verb

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
as in eddies

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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
But unlike when Kruger first started producing conceptual art some five decades ago, similar language now swirls all around us more than ever. — Amy Verner, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 Max Martin, Grande sings of blowing through breakups and make-ups and enduring mounting exhaustion with mass notoriety while the music swirls patiently and frequently angrily underneath. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 The galaxy's heart shines brightly in the image, with gleaming rays of light radiating from its center while gas and dust swirls around. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 19 May 2026 Longoria’s approach to the wild fervour that continually swirls around the Velodrome was to try to harness it by hiring comparably combustible coaches like Jorge Sampaoli, Igor Tudor, Gennaro Gattuso and De Zerbi. — Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026 The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 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
Noun
Such a beautiful sculpture, mimicking the swirls found in nature (the cosmos, shells, Fibonacci-following topiary) felt a far cry from the swirl of emotions prompted by my favorite TV shows. — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirls
  1. stirs
  2. twirls
  3. eddies
  4. washes
  5. rotates
  6. rolls
  7. turns
  8. wheels
Verb
  • Skeleton Tree at Rumi’s Kitchen Perfect for the midnight cocktail hour, Rumi’s stirs together a black Manhattan with Persian spice.
    — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Watching polygamous families, Surya says, stirs pity, judgment and empathy in her, as well as fascination with the camaraderie, rivalry and sisterhood between the women.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of stirs
Verb
  • Inside, Benjamin Davalos twirls his measuring jigger and, with a turn of his wrist, releases a swallow’s worth of straight rye.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
  • With smoke streaming from his mouth and nose, McTominay twirls the delighted older man around.
    — Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
Definition of twirls
Noun
  • In a river, water slows down by the bank due to friction, and the velocity mismatches can produce vortices or eddies.
    — Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The drive traverses the Bear River Mountains (a northern branch of the Wasatch), passing aspen groves, limestone cliffs, and the whitewater eddies of the Logan River along the way.
    — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of eddies
Verb
  • On the traditional-spa side, a JetPeel facial using Augustinus Bader products essentially pressure-washes my skin with nutrient-rich serums.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Continue reading … CREATOR'S REMORSE — TV legend Oprah washes her hands of any association with Dr Phil or Dr Oz.
    — , FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of washes
Verb
  • Glenn rotates pass rushers, and nine different Jets have a sack, as New York is tied for fifth with 17 sacks as a team.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The company’s latest hardware, called Helios, rotates the ions around a ring, selectively shifting the appropriate ones into one of two arms where measurements and operations of the ions’ quantum states can be performed using lasers.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of rotates
Noun
  • Studies and audits of state voter rolls have repeatedly found that voting by noncitizens is rare and hasn’t swayed any elections.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The rally comes as federal prosecutors claim to have found fraud on state voter rolls ahead of next month’s election.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of rolls
Verb
  • Sometimes you get wrapped up in things and your focus turns toward other types of content.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • By tonight, the Moon enters Aquarius and your attention turns toward what is worth your time and energy.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of turns
Noun
  • The vehicle then rotated in midair and landed back on its wheels.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Other times, a bike maker can slap on a new paint job, a different set of wheels and a cushier seat, and somehow end up with a bike that sells like hotcakes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of wheels

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Cite this Entry

“Swirls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirls. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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