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
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
So In Love, she’s been twirling around in the loose, fluttering silhouette, a signature of her preppy-meets-edgy style.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 12 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
Aaron Gordon sat at his locker twirling the tape from his finger, unable to wrap his head around a stunning 119-114 defeat.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
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
So In Love, she’s been twirling around in the loose, fluttering silhouette, a signature of her preppy-meets-edgy style.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 12 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
Aaron Gordon sat at his locker twirling the tape from his finger, unable to wrap his head around a stunning 119-114 defeat.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twirling
Verb
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The third-year students spent nearly a year developing and refining the engine, which runs through continuous rotating explosions in a circular chamber.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
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The worst of the severe weather is expected west and northwest of the Kansas City metro, where supercells (large, rotating thunderstorms) capable of producing hail and strong to intense tornadoes are most likely from central Kansas and southeast Nebraska into Iowa and northwest Missouri.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Longtime residents might remember the hot dogs and burgers making their way past eager students on field trips at the National Museum of American History’s revolving Carousel Cafeteria, or the large, greenhouse-like McDonald’s inside the Air and Space Museum.—
Fritz Hahn,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
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So, for borrowers carrying revolving balances, that means the high cost of credit card debt isn't going anywhere either.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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During a recent experience, the eight mini games ranged from trivia to stacking foam blocks and from Nerf dart shooting to spinning a giant wheel for points.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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This setup would let researchers detect minute differences in the isotopes’ energy levels by examining nuances in the magnetic field created by each particle’s spinning nucleus, called the nuclear magnetic moment.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Hundreds of thousands of deliveries, all landing on his front leg while twisting his torso, had taken a toll on his right hip that three surgeries could not repair.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
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Gutierrez recommended twisting the barrel adjuster next to the brake handles counter-clockwise and tightening the neighboring stopper bolt, which will increase tension with the tire’s brake cable.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The roughly 4,800-square-foot home is wrapped in expansive windows overlooking the lake and mountains beyond, turning the landscape into a constantly changing backdrop.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
13 May 2026
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Another way to decorate your privacy fence is by turning it into a full-on plant wall.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The dark matter By looking at how the emission lines in the spectrum were broadened by the Doppler effect, Nakajima and his colleagues measured that the gas is swirling around inside the galaxy at roughly 58 kilometers per second, a rather typical value for dwarf galaxies.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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Media reports are swirling that L’Oréal is in discussions to acquire a majority stake in Innovist, an Indian personal care company that includes brands such as Bare Anatomy, Chemist at Play and Sunscoop in its portfolio.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Firefighters witnessed a rare ‘ash devil’ while battling the Trinity fire in San Bernardino County — a whirling column of hot ash and embers created when rising heat meets shifting winds.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
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The video then cuts to two Apache helicopters whirling up.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Twirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twirling. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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