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

Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars — the ultra-dense remnants left behind when massive stars explode as supernovas.

— Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 14 July 2026
To go with the vibe of the handmade art, the couple decided on small rotating flavors of coffee and matcha.

— Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026

Definition of rotating

Verb

The Oswego Village Board Tuesday evening will consider a revolving loan and a grant for a new breakfast and lunch restaurant planned in the village’s downtown.

— Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Buy now, pay later plans and revolving credit cards can make a splurge feel affordable in the moment, but the bill doesn’t disappear when the music stops.

— byDavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 July 2026

Definition of revolving

Verb

Each design was simulated spinning mid-flight and overlaid on 100 real-world backgrounds, then scored by a perceptual model built to mimic human vision, where a lower score meant better camouflage.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 July 2026
The film is a journey of nine years, watching that thread keep spinning and visiting ten communities on five continents.

— Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026

Definition of spinning

Verb

In whatever looping scenario might be chosen, the next step involves twisting a cap on the locking mechanism to take up the slack in the cable.

— Ben Coxworth July 18, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
The beluga came from below and passed in one swooping motion, twisting to display its chest to onlookers.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Definition of twisting

Verb

But the China demand story is mostly one of extreme preparedness rather than the world’s second-largest economy turning its back on oil.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Their fans have provided the electricity of this tournament, travelling in huge numbers, turning Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami and Dallas into oceans of blue and white.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of turning

Verb

This entire scene is terrifically tense, kicking off with a stunning shot of the two women standing in defensive positions on the golf course, birds swirling ominously in the cloudy sky above.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 15 July 2026
The rumors that Travis Kelce is about to retire have been swirling for a while.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 July 2026

Definition of swirling

Verb

For much of the past week, all that Colombia had been able to agree upon was the pre-eminence of Luis Diaz, who remained a whirling dervish throughout the match as his side’s outstanding player.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 24 June 2026
That’s the question that has been whirling around Hollywood since the news broke that Amazon MGM Studios was dropping the feature just months after Amazon entered into a $50 billion investment with Sam Altman’s OpenAI.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 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 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of twirling

verb

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