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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of whir
Aratus, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
The two men are alone on the trail, the only sounds the runner’s breathing, the pounding of his feet on the path, the whir of the bike’s wheels and occasional snatches of birdsong.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
An enormous drill sends a thick metal bit whirring deep into the quarry ground and back up to the surface.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
And crows will mimic the crystalline splashing of rain yet to come, or after two deep croaks
will set up a whir with furious wingbeats.
—Aratus, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
The two men are alone on the trail, the only sounds the runner’s breathing, the pounding of his feet on the path, the whir of the bike’s wheels and occasional snatches of birdsong.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
And the machines whirring somewhere out of earshot.
—Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
An enormous drill sends a thick metal bit whirring deep into the quarry ground and back up to the surface.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Verb
-
Hiring has kept up a solid, albeit slower pace, humming along with less disruption than some economists anticipated.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The Nets could never find a way to get their offense humming in minutes.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
Fluffy robot pets that purr for your attention or tell you a joke.—
Joseph Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
And yes, the dogs bark, quietly, and the cats purr.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Retail therapy glints at Luxury Plaza: think OMEGA watches, fine jewellery, and a whisper of indulgence.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
These rules were administered via cold shoulders and whispers.—
Alessandra Schade,
Time,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Still, the league is likely to continue pursuing games in novel locations as a way to reach more fans and generate buzz during its regular season.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Healdsburg Healdsburg is a small town with plenty of buzz—and for good reason.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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