1
as in rotating
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis
absentmindedly twirled a lock of her hair around her finger
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in revolving
to move in circles around an axis or center
an ice-skater twirling in place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of twirling
After spinning, flipping and twirling their hearts out, the pair received a score of 34 from the judges.
—
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025
Other photos showed just the mom and her daughter twirling together alone.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Up-and-comer status gifted el Khaleel’s group, Mantronix, with the glory of a four-hundred-dollar gig at the rec center, home to youth basketball games, baton-twirling competitions, after-school child care, and — on occasion — community concerts.
—Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Tyler Glasnow did not threaten to go the distance, as Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto did while twirling gems in the first two games of this series.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Sprinklers were twirling on little patches of lawn.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Almost every time there’s a close call the player comes up twirling his finger, beseeching his coach to ask for a review.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
In sync with the dance theme and in a nod to the creative process, the presentation will recreate a dance competition, with models donning Moja Rowa pieces and number badges while twirling and gliding with headphones on — silent party mode.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025
That includes Anya Singh as Aasmaan’s manager Sanya, Raghav Juyal as bestie Parvaiz, Manish Chaudhari as mustache-twirling studio executive Freddie Sodawallah, Manoj Pahwa as Aasmaan’s uncle Avtar, and Mona Singh and Vijayakant Kohli as his parents.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025
Other photos showed just the mom and her daughter twirling together alone.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Up-and-comer status gifted el Khaleel’s group, Mantronix, with the glory of a four-hundred-dollar gig at the rec center, home to youth basketball games, baton-twirling competitions, after-school child care, and — on occasion — community concerts.
—Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Tyler Glasnow did not threaten to go the distance, as Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto did while twirling gems in the first two games of this series.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Sprinklers were twirling on little patches of lawn.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Almost every time there’s a close call the player comes up twirling his finger, beseeching his coach to ask for a review.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
In sync with the dance theme and in a nod to the creative process, the presentation will recreate a dance competition, with models donning Moja Rowa pieces and number badges while twirling and gliding with headphones on — silent party mode.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025
That includes Anya Singh as Aasmaan’s manager Sanya, Raghav Juyal as bestie Parvaiz, Manish Chaudhari as mustache-twirling studio executive Freddie Sodawallah, Manoj Pahwa as Aasmaan’s uncle Avtar, and Mona Singh and Vijayakant Kohli as his parents.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twirling
Verb
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There is also a rotating pastry selection from Good Luck Bakery from Wednesdays to Saturdays and strong java from Counter Culture Coffee.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
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The video shows sunlight breaking through as the circular eye wall becomes visible, with clouds rotating rapidly around a calm center.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Creating a revolving load fund for affordable housing projects.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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According to Bankrate, nearly half of American households have credit card debt and pay more than 20% in interest, on average, on their revolving balances — making credit cards one of the most expensive ways to borrow money.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By comparison, Seoul Station tells us more about how the zombie virus began while also spinning a tight, impactful story centered on three compelling characters.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
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The trailer tees up his infatuation rom-com style before spinning into explosive action.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The research team pointed out that mapping the material’s performance onto an Ashby chart highlights twisting metamaterials as a promising class of mechanically adaptive, crashworthy materials for advanced protection systems in automotive, rail, aerospace, and defense applications.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
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Dueling water coaster The water coaster teased for Magic Mountain’s Hurricane Harbor water park would feature a side-by-side inner tube race through twisting drops and high-speed turns.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With goal difference not a factor in this three-match format, there was no incentive for Miami to push forward in the final period, and Nashville never looked like turning the contest around.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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But Drew Mestekmaker and North Texas’ high-flying offense wouldn’t be denied, turning a three-point deficit midway through the third quarter into a 34-point road victory, keeping their College Football Playoff hopes alive.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Some have likened the controversy surrounding Savin's display of old-time mobsters to the debate swirling around old statues of Confederate generals.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
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There's plenty of headlines swirling before Game 1 begins Friday at Rogers Centre.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Perhaps more than any other individual in the whirling sphere of fashion, Margareta van den Bosch catapulted high-low dressing.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
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Here, the tarantella is by turns gleeful and demonic — a frantic dance of the doomed, whirling through a mist of contemporary clangor.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Twirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twirling. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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