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
  • 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
  • Continue reading … STAR POWER CLASH — DHS fires back at rock singer after anti-ICE concert eruption stirs outrage.
    — , FOXNews.com, 8 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
  • As the motor rotates the end, the rod deforms and stores elastic energy.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Workday’s rally comes amid a broader rethink of software companies, which are starting to look more attractive as money rotates out of semiconductors and into parts of the AI trade that investors think will outperform going forward.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of rotates
Noun
  • Battles over voter rolls, citizenship and federal authority There are secretary of state contests in 26 states this November.
    — Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
  • As the camera rolls, Holmes works overtime to convince the filmmakers, and us, of her innocence, with Evans butting in frequently to add his 3,268 cents—2 would never be enough.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 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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swirls
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Cite this Entry

“Swirls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirls. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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