twirling

verb

present participle of twirl
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

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 The last time these two met in Tuscaloosa was in 2024, when the Tide won 41-34 on Ryan Coleman-Williams 75-yard, twirling touchdown catch-and-run. — Justin Williams, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Einstein’s general theory of relativity dictates that a twirling black hole would bring spacetime along for the ride, warping it in a process known as the Lense-Thirring effect. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026 Choreographer Lincoln Jones walked among them, hand to chin, thinking, and at times twirling alone as if chasing whispers. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twirling
  1. rotating
  2. revolving
  3. spinning
  4. twisting
  5. turning
  6. swirling
  7. whirling
Verb
  • The dial shows off Australian opal in full force, a dazzling stone that shifts between different shades of blue, depending on the light; the same material is used in between each of the 12 rotating cubes.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2026
  • There are other ways to provide enrichment, like rotating toys every day to stimulate exploration, using puzzle feeder dishes to satisfy hunting behaviors and playing videos for your cat showing birds or fish.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of rotating
Verb
  • The production uses a revolving cast, and McCarthy was never scheduled to perform alongside Lipman.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Short-term working capital needs are often better suited for a revolving line of credit.
    — Joseph Lustberg, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of revolving
Verb
  • Karina, a former Category 4 hurricane spinning about 755 miles east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii, and Tropical Storm Marie, churning about 705 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • An exhausting, head-spinning and often downright silly offseason is officially over after college football really kicked off on Thursday (after the always bizarre Week 0 last weekend).
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of spinning
Verb
  • Kubrick honed his signature style and attention to detail here in a film that’s constantly twisting and turning, intent on knocking its audience off their feet.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The system shudders a bit and then gets back to normal, like a person stubbing a toe or twisting an ankle faces discomfort and difficulty walking for a while.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of twisting
Verb
  • No analytics can project how Johnson’s emphasis on turning the page will affect the team’s chances in 2026.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • As such, the candidates who have practical ideas for turning the economy around and exhibit empathy for Americans worried about how to pay their bills could receive the bulk of the union vote.
    — The Conversation, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of turning
Verb
  • Now, a new enigmatic 10-sided feature known as the decagon has been spotted swirling on the complete opposite side of the ringed planet.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Early Tuesday morning, Anaheim mayor Ashleigh Aitken started getting a slew of calls and texts — rumors were swirling about a potential landmark day in her hometown.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of swirling
Verb
  • The room grows as silent as this whirling slot machine of a city can get.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The sounds of generators humming and chain saws whirling filled the neighborhood Thursday afternoon.
    — Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of whirling

Browse Nearby Words

twirled
twirling
twirls
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Cite this Entry

“Twirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twirling. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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