Thesaurus results for TWIRLING

twirling

verb

present participle of twirl

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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as in revolving

to move in circles around an axis or center an ice-skater twirling in place

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 twirling On any other man, this level of villainy could be mustache-twirling and cartoonish. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 June 2026 The mustache-twirling villain flees, both Half-ATs and full-on AT-AT Walkers come into play, and our hero and Grogu finish the job. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026 Stephens never plays a mustache-twirling sadist, instead carrying himself with the unbearable confidence of a man truly convinced that his version of abuse and even murder is civilized. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026 Emmet Sheehan turned in perhaps his best start of the season Thursday, twirling six innings against the San Francisco Giants. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 16 May 2026 Wow, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) is a mustache-twirling villain right from the jump! — William Earl, Variety, 15 May 2026 The flowers of Love-in-a-Mist look like ballerina’s skirts twirling in the breeze. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 May 2026 Hands stretched, twirling as if being spun about. — ‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026 These problems are so much more than any one mustache-twirling villain could ever hope to be. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for twirling

Verb

But each of its eight-and-a-half minutes introduces a subtle mutation, rotating buzzing electronics and quivering guitars into the spotlight.

— Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
There’s a rotating exhibition of photos from the New York Public Library’s Picture Collection.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of rotating

Verb

But the sausage slipped from its grip and plopped back into formation, alongside the others revolving lazily between rollers.

— Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
The most chatter from fans of Roku City — yes, a screen saver has many, many devotees — springs from the Easter eggs, a revolving selection of more than 40 pop-culture moments and nostalgic references that populate the screen.

— Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of revolving

Verb

Eating disorders, as those in recovery have stressed, thrive on the pathological evidence of their symptoms, spinning negative attention—concern, disgust—into fatal affirmations.

— Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
And her block on Sabrina Ionescu moments before halftime preceded her sprinting past multiple Liberty players, receiving a bounce pass from Flau’jae Johnson, spinning by Rebekah Gardner and easily scoring two of 15 first-half points.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of spinning

Verb

On bars – her weakest event – Jade Carey fought through a late pirouette to nearly nail her full-twisting double layout dismount.

— Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Like Dante, Nick Tosches was an undaunted character whose tongue-twisting prose was an iconoclastic mash-up of realism and intricate, erudite lyricism.

— A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of twisting

Verb

The bitcoin price has crashed over the last year, with fears swirling that a further bitcoin price crash could be looming.

— Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
With the metaphorical jet fumes already swirling on Capitol Hill, some are at least threatening to potentially put their colleagues on the record for or against adjourning until September.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of swirling

Verb

The systems also can spin up whirling columns of flame — usually a fire whirl, which Giannaros describes as a dust devil made of fire and heat instead of dust.

— Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
The Argentina fans roused themselves, whirling their shirts above their heads.

— Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Definition of whirling

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twirled

twirling

twirls

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“Twirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twirling. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of twirling

verb

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