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
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 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 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
  • The kitchen buzzes as volunteers carry in trays of Creole dishes and barbecue while one of the sisters stirs a large cooler of lemon margaritas.
    — Windsor Johnston, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Refusing to do so, Luis stirs a rivalry and potentially endangers his own employment.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 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
  • Tzikas pointed to the San Juan Rapids, Clay Banks and Sailor Bar areas as those with stronger currents and eddies that can throw individuals from their rafts and paddleboards or submerge them before shooting them rapidly downstream.
    — Reeti Malhotra July 10, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • Convection involves turbulent eddies of warm air rising from the ground into the atmosphere above, and latent heat involves the absorption or release of energy from a phase change without the temperature changing.
    — Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of eddies
Verb
  • Griffin diligently washes his hands after his dogs lick them, especially before picking up a slice of pizza.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Rain often washes those chemicals and fertilizers into nearby rivers and streams.
    — Jayash Paudel, The Conversation, 29 July 2026
Definition of washes
Verb
  • The art space rotates through exhibition themes with submissions open to the public at the beginning of every other month.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The roller rotates constantly and gets rinsed with clean water, so the part touching the car always stays clean.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of rotates
Noun
  • Jack Callahan was just a kid when his dad, William, ran the place, with his wife using a VW van for deliveries and the kids – Jack included – shucking lobster meat for those famed rolls.
    — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The cinnamon rolls are a favorite, but the atypical Kouign-amann, which comes baked as a whole cake and is served in slices, might be the menu’s best-kept secret.
    — Kyle Beechey, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of rolls
Verb
  • Our fantasy football roundtable series turns its attention to running backs.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • India has put $160 million behind a Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme, and Vietnam’s Decree 05/2025 turns recycled electronics into tradable EPR certificates, making compliance a revenue line rather than a cost.
    — Rob Kaplan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of turns
Noun
  • This turns in the opposite direction to the front wheels at low speeds for tighter city maneuvering but stabilizes handling during high-speed lane changes or corners by turning with the front.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Hopefully all of the drifting is turning the wheels in his brain for ideas for the next great theme park attraction.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 18 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of swirls for Spanish Speakers

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