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

Relevance
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
  • Michaelson asked Fisher about a particular conversation between the two former Lakers that still stirs strong emotions for the 18-year NBA veteran.
    Monica Haider, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Paul Mescal stirs as the Bard, complete with an earring, but his co-star Buckley breathes heart-wrenching life into Hamnet.
    Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 23 Jan. 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
  • Simply hold the brush in place, and sit back as the machine thoroughly washes and dries your bristles within thirty seconds.
    Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Neither washes his hands in the kitchen.
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The skater actually rotates four and a half times, in less than a second.
    Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The digital display automatically rotates when the heater is used horizontally, a small but thoughtful touch for its dual-orientation concept.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Back in the day, the bread was brought to each table alongside regular dinner rolls at the start of the meal.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026
  • The cylindrical, not conical hand rolls range from $8 to $12, and include vegetarian options.
    Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That officer then turns his attention to the group of officers trying to restrain Pretti.
    Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Copenhagen Fashion Week turns 20 this year.
    Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • So much grunt routes through a trick all-wheel-drive system that actually uses a two-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the front wheels, in addition to a more traditional eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle routing power to the rears.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The Black Edition has black all over, including the body, trim, 18-inch alloy wheels, skidplate, and grille—and even black glass, almost, or privacy glass.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swirls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirls. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on swirls

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!