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
  • But, in bypassing parliament, the move stirs questions about regulatory certainty for investors at a time when Nigeria is pushing to ramp up interest in its rebounding oil and gas sector.
    Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The full range of emotions that your subject matter stirs in you isn’t necessarily relevant to your audience.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 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
  • While one parent feeds them, the other washes their sheets.
    Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • The award-winning restaurant chain serves up made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch, with a menu that rotates five times a year to highlight ingredients at their peak.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Once installed, every pull of the chain rotates a circular drum displaying the numbers zero through three.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • How many illnesses, how many businesses will suffer, how many fish and animals lost, as the burbling witch’s brew rolls, slowly, to the ocean?
    Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Sweeten mornings with breakfast sandwiches made on Hawaiian rolls.
    Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Rai, who turns 31 on March 3, has eight wins since turning pro in 2012, including the Wyndham Championship in 2024.
    Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • In recent years, the club has struggled out the gates before warming up as the weather turns.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
  • While older torque vectoring systems use the brakes to balance power between wheels, Audi’s setup here is active, using an electric motor actuator to make huge power deltas between the left and right wheels if necessary.
    Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 19 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swirls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirls. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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