whirl 1 of 2

1
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point the whirl of the mechanical ride made him dizzy

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2
3
4
as in try
an effort to do or accomplish something I'm pretty good at fixing things, so how about if I give it a whirl?

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whirl

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to stir
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly whirled the chocolate syrup into the milk with a spoon

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2
as in to spin
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis the figure skater whirled his partner with effortless grace

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3
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5
as in to swim
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around my mind whirled from all of the excitement

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whirl
Noun
Goldberg and Crystal have both stood where Conan O'Brien did last night and took a whirl at hosting from the Academy Awards stage. Shania Russell, EW.com, 3 Mar. 2025 In the whirl of today’s chaos, presencing the future is an invaluable skill. Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
Jackson stood behind him and watched as Lee whirled back and hummed pitches into the catcher’s mitt from a low arm slot. Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025 This revealed to the team that approximately 70 percent of their sample galaxies showed evidence of gas whirling around at 2 million miles per hour (1,000 kilometers per second). Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
  • Following a dominant spring training, Meyer secured a spot in the Marlins’ rotation and has since emerged as the team’s most reliable starter.
    Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
  • However, between its strangely obfuscated profiles and overall lack of extra features, Raw shouldn't be the only dating app in your rotation.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Arkansas regiment was unable to hold its position and fled in confusion when ordered to charge by Yell.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 May 2025
  • Driving that reversal: the public’s confusion over and disapproval of his tariff policies.
    Christian Paz, Vox, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • No playoff rotational decision caused a stir quite like Redick’s bold Game 4 move.
    Jovan Buha, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • The company, which started in 2015 and sells itself as a meal kit service, is actually closer to an online grocery store than a place that’s going to send you half an onion wrapped in plastic and a tiny baggy of cumin to make some so-so black bean tacos or a random stir fry.
    Carina Finn, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • On the fourth try, the bird may have found something.
    Amanda Schupak, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
  • After poor weather forced ULA to scrub a launch attempt on April 9, the company will have to wait nearly three weeks for another try to launch an Atlas V rocket with Amazon's first full-up load of 27 Kuiper broadband satellites, Ars reports.
    Abigail Bassett, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Cook, swirling butter and stirring often, until butter is golden brown and has a nutty fragrance, 2 to 3 minutes more.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 2 May 2025
  • Clues that pointed astronomers to these locations included swirling gas influenced by an early planet’s gravity, as well as rings and gaps of dust inside dust disks.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Sierra Ferrell is also on board this boundary-blurring tour that will spin through the U.S. until July 1 with stops including Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Denver and Seattle before wrapping in San Francisco.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • The cage spins along four independent axes at 60 seconds, 18 seconds, 15 seconds, and 60 seconds respectively, creating a stunning visual effect of synchronized motion.
    Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rather than tiring the players out, the Conference League has given Maresca more opportunity to rotate and give everyone game time, therefore keeping fringe members happier.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • Those openings included a face-to-face meeting last month between the junta leader and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, which currently holds the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 sped to a strong finish on MTV.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Twisted Metal Season 2 is speeding into view, with a release date set for later this year.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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