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
4
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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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
An early Cyber Monday deal is the perfect excuse to give the Hinoki Body Oil a whirl. Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 Dec. 2024 In sinking beneath the surface turmoil and resting in stillness, one is no longer tossed about by the whirl. Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
But the uncomfortably uncertain path of this asteroid — discovered only in late December — offered a timely reminder of how vulnerable humanity remains to hidden perils whirling through space, and how much still needs to be done to protect the planet. Editorial, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2025 As these stars and planets whirl around each other, their gravitational interactions perturb the orbits of other smaller objects in Alpha Centauri, ranging from asteroids and comets — planetesimals left over from the formation of our neighboring system — to particles of dust. Robert Lea, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
  • EuroLeague sports directors — the analog to general managers in American sports — are frustrated to be losing rotation players to the college ranks.
    CJ Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • The Dodgers starting rotation for the past two seasons is a MASH unit.
    Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • This program was designed to provide shorter, clearer letters to reduce taxpayer confusion.
    Cindy McGhee, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Cannes, the famous international film festival in the south of France, is underway – and is causing a stir with its new dress code rules.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Sounds simple enough, but additive-free tequila has caused a stir in Mexico and elsewhere.
    John Kell, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Not even an approximate 40-foot fall and sustained injuries on her third try in 2019 deterred her from forging ahead with her goal — rather, the scary slip was just a stepping stone in her personal journey to achieving her dreams.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Around 2016, after a particularly painful breakup, the Body Work author decided to do something radical: give up on dating and give celibacy a try.
    Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • As the questions surrounding Oasis‘ fast-approaching reunion tour continue to swirl, longtime bassist Andy Bell has confirmed his presence within the lineup.
    Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 15 May 2025
  • Conflict-of-interest worries are swirling around Trump’s four-day visit to the Middle East.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • In a video posted by PBR, That Mexican OT spun away from a charging bull on two occasions, just barely escaping its horns.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2025
  • There are plenty of reasons to believe Milwaukee wouldn’t go for such an offer: Butler doesn’t exactly fit a rebuild timeline (and an unhappy Butler has made waves before), and spinning his sizable contract off to another team would likely prove difficult.
    Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Tracks haven’t rotated in and out of the calendar since Hockenheim and the Nurburgring shared hosting duties for the German Grand Prix between 2008 and 2014.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • When baking in a skillet, rotate the pan a quarter turn every 10 minutes.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Los Blancos sped up talks after their 4-3 defeat to Barcelona on May 11, which effectively ended hopes of retaining their La Liga title this season.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • There are already dozens of newsletters bringing educators up to speed on how to use it to help students learn.
    Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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