variants
also whirr
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
a whir coming from the refrigerator
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also whirr
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound
the hummingbird whirred as it hovered over a flower our tires whirred as we traveled over the rough road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whir
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Between intermittent interviews in a somber Royals clubhouse on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium, the lone prevailing noise was the whir of a refreshment refrigerator.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Electric forklifts whirred and precisely stacked rice weighing 44,080 pounds into neat rows to be lifted into a barge’s deep depths.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
This is a full-sensory experience with everything from the whir of roller skates on a retro rink to enough pink to make a flamingo blush.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Between intermittent interviews in a somber Royals clubhouse on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium, the lone prevailing noise was the whir of a refreshment refrigerator.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Verb
Helicopters whirred overhead throughout the weekend as Anaconda residents adjusted to daily life after the shooting.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Electric forklifts whirred and precisely stacked rice weighing 44,080 pounds into neat rows to be lifted into a barge’s deep depths.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Noun
-
Schumann Resonance Time Acceleration Schumann resonances are natural, low-frequency electromagnetic hums that form in the cavity between Earth’s surface and the ionosphere (50-600 miles above the surface).—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The lobby bar, meanwhile, hums as the social engine of the property.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Fluffy robot pets that purr for your attention or tell you a joke.—
Joseph Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
Davis remembers hearing the whispers of concern.—
Suzette Hackney,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Well, the test screening whisper network has said glowing things about it so far.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There was a palpable buzz on Charlotte’s campus leading up to kickoff.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
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The rising star is generating serious buzz for his turn as a struggling family man who's a sanitation worker by day and robber of drug dealers by night in HBO’s new series Task, costarring Mark Ruffalo.—
Julie Jordan,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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