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
The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 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 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 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 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
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
  • Cancer June 21 – July 22 This morning stirs feelings close to home.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2026
  • Atlantic tropics are quiet while Pacific stirs In the Atlantic basin, forecasters are predicting a quiet stretch of weather.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Definition of stirs
Verb
  • With smoke streaming from his mouth and nose, McTominay twirls the delighted older man around.
    — Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026
  • The Manchester City taliswoman then twirls her arm before knee sliding in front of the travelling fans.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Definition of twirls
Noun
  • Dull says that the redesign will eliminate eddies inside the dam, increasing efficiency and saving the lives of juvenile salmon who might get stuck inside.
    — D. Hunter Reardon, USA Today, 3 June 2026
  • That uses the aerodisc wheels, each machined from a single piece of aluminum and designed to minimize range-sapping eddies and wakes by funneling the air like a turbine.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 26 May 2026
Definition of eddies
Verb
  • The vacuum and mop combo is a hands-free robot that auto-empties dirt into a 3-liter bag, self-washes the mop rollers, and auto-refills the water chamber for the next cleaning session.
    — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026
  • In the video, backed by champagne synths and hopscotching snares, a tuxedoed Jaeychino strolls the beach in Margiela sneakers, his jacket flapping in the wind as seafoam washes ashore.
    — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
Definition of washes
Verb
  • The Air Force rotates bombers including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s through Andersen to project power across the Pacific.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Torifune orbits the sun every 383 days and rotates every 5 hours.
    — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of rotates
Noun
  • While Garcia runs a steady takeout business, there are a handful of tables inside, with chili flakes in shakers and rolls of paper towel for napkins.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Few would begrudge Paraguay this recognition, but the skullduggery did produce eye-rolls and requires stronger officiating.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of rolls
Verb
  • Everything the man is touching nowadays turns into gold for him and rot for the rest of us, a curse any smart person would avoid.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
Definition of turns
Noun
  • If the daybed doesn’t have wheels, Button suggests adding casters to the legs for a DIY way to make the outdoor furniture mobile.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 July 2026
  • 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.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on swirls

Nglish: Translation of swirls for Spanish Speakers

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