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
Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In the quiet town of Shawnee, Oklahoma, the rapid whir of sewing machines fills one of the last surviving American garment factories.
—Jing Feng, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2025
For Catalans, the whirring activity at the Sagrada Família has become a symbol of their can-do culture.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
Three descendants of one of those original colonies were startled by the whir of Captain Brett’s fan motor and, with Busby Berkeley synchronicity, dived from the bank into the muddy water.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In the quiet town of Shawnee, Oklahoma, the rapid whir of sewing machines fills one of the last surviving American garment factories.
—Jing Feng, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
Part of the appeal of drones as hazing tools, however, is that the whirring sound of the rotors is already scary enough for most bears.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2025
For Catalans, the whirring activity at the Sagrada Família has become a symbol of their can-do culture.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Noun
-
Most nights, Mike's is a standard hum of conversation, colliding pool balls and whatever game is on TV.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Swim, snorkel, or simply lie back and let the hum of cicadas and the sound of the waves wash over you.—
Marco Palermo,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Its small black-and-white screen was often blurry, sometimes blank and buzzing, the programming sporadic or lame.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, endless construction, the Siegels’ lavish (but tacky) lifestyle and their chaotic family life buzz in the background.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Murillo’s diagonal ball elicits audible purrs from the Peter Taylor Stand.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
This has translated into freakishly unstable songs that spin from garish wubs and witch folk to lullaby-like purrs.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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