1
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point
the whirl of the mechanical ride made him dizzy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
so many changes at once had her all in a whirl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stir
a state of noisy, confused activity
lost an earring in the whirl of the party
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to rotate
to move in circles around an axis or center
the gambler held his breath as the roulette wheel whirled
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly
cars whirling by on the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whirl
Cathleen Schine, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Jacobson’s Willy is a whirl of insecurity, misplaced self-confidence and bewilderment at how his world has changed around him.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
The heady Moon whirls into your 6th House of Effort, highlighting habits that support productivity.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whirl
Noun
Stern writes with a manic whirl of comic images and sentences and ideas that are disturbing and hilarious and sometimes grim, all of the madness carefully, delicately constructed.
—Cathleen Schine, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Jacobson’s Willy is a whirl of insecurity, misplaced self-confidence and bewilderment at how his world has changed around him.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
On the surface, at least, all of that would seem to make Karaban entirely ill-suited for Hurley – the orderly, math nerd introvert versus the whirling dervish extrovert.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
The heady Moon whirls into your 6th House of Effort, highlighting habits that support productivity.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
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No starting pitcher on the Astros’ roster is making more money than Imai, who is supposed to announce this franchise’s arrival in the Pacific Rim, while slotting somewhere in the middle of its starting rotation.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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At fine-dining Le Grand Large, a rotation of visiting chefs knock up Provencal dishes like red snapper and Bouillabaisse.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Little ones who came out of the casket viewing with their parents wore expressions of confusion and shock after witnessing eight bodies that didn’t look so different from their own.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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Online reactions to the incident ranged from confusion to humor.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Among them was a Washington think tank that caused a stir recently with a paper that proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 to shore up the retirement trust fund.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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After Bo Nix’s follow-up ankle procedure caused quite the stir in recent weeks, Payton said Nix could still end up throwing in minicamp later in June.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Hathaway, on a two-on-one with Luke Glendening, saw his point-blank slam-dunk try denied by the left pad of Andersen, and in the closing seconds, Dvorak’s shot from the slot, set up by Konecny, rang off the inside of the post.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
Swisher, a journalist, gave both AI companionship and analog relationship building a try in this week’s episode.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Rumors on the price needed to acquire a men’s college basketball player out of the transfer portal started to swirl before the free agency period opened last month.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
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But Father Evelio Menjívar Ayala seems unfazed by his new job – or the politics swirling around it.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Elsewhere, fibers are spun into thread, dyed, bleached, and rewoven into rugs, carpets and blankets.—
Ayushi Shah,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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The 21-year-old left-hander rebounded from two sup-par starts to spin five shutout innings in high Single-A Fort Wayne’s 1-0 win over visiting Beloit.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The Caramel Churro Sundae is the latest addition to Costco's lineup of sundaes, which have previously rotated to include fun flavors like the Double Chocolate Mint Sundae and Caramel Brownie Sundae.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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The 6-foot-6 guard will likely slot in as the two-guard for Boise State, with returning sophomore Aginaldo Neto and North Dakota State transfer Damari Wheeler-Thomas likely to rotate at point guard.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
Verb
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On housing, Arenas noted her efforts to make planning and development more streamlined to speed up building, and pointed out how her office worked on a state bill, signed into law in 2024, that would ease permitting requirements and allow for denser farmworker housing.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
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In April, about one in four companies cited artificial intelligence as the reason for layoffs, a growing trend as businesses seek to speed up workflows and cut costs.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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