Synonyms of whirl

whirl 1 of 2

noun

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

• rotation
• twirl
• spin
• roll
• curve
• wheel
• reel
• revolution
• twist
• gyration
• spiral
• circle
• pirouette
• curl
• round
• orbit
• circulation
• coil
• ring
• circuit
• swirl
• whorl
• eddy

2

as in confusion

a state of mental uncertainty

so many changes at once had her all in a whirl

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confusion
• fog
• tangle
• perplexity
• bewilderment
• bemusement
• bafflement
• maze
• discombobulation
• puzzlement
• distraction
• mystification
• head-scratching
• befuddlement
• muddle
• discomfort
• distress
• bamboozlement
• confusedness
• dismay
• agitation
• embarrassment
• bewilderedness
• commotion
• mortification
• perturbation
• flurry
• discomfiture
• turmoil
• chagrin
• disturbance
• upset
• disquiet
• abashment
• dither
• fuss
• disconcertment
• bother
• fluster
• stew

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confidence
• assurance
• certainty
• conviction
• sureness
• certitude
• positiveness

3

as in stir

a state of noisy, confused activity

lost an earring in the whirl of the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stir
• commotion
• hurry
• disturbance
• fuss
• turmoil
• clatter
• storm
• fun
• racket
• noise
• roar
• to-do
• hurricane
• bustle
• tumult
• clutter
• hubbub
• bother
• coil
• ado
• hoopla
• row
• pother
• flurry
• squall
• zoo
• ruckus
• shindy
• rumpus
• furore
• uproar
• helter-skelter
• blather
• pandemonium
• moil
• splore
• welter
• hullabaloo
• furor
• kerfuffle
• stew
• ballyhoo
• ruction
• foofaraw
• hoo-ha
• hurly-burly
• bluster
• hurry-scurry
• upheaval
• howl
• hurly
• do
• flutter
• cacophony
• clamor
• bobbery
• din
• outcry
• alarums and excursions
• hubble-bubble
• williwaw
• unrest
• eruption
• disorder
• brawl
• hue and cry
• outburst
• outbreak
• fray
• tizzy
• fever
• scuffle
• melee
• fret
• lather
• dither
• fracas
• hassle
• flare-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• peace
• stillness
• hush
• calm
• quiet
• tranquility
• order
• quietude
• orderliness

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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• try
• attempt
• stab
• go
• offer
• endeavor
• shot
• bid
• pass
• fling
• trial
• whack
• crack
• assay
• essay
• bash
• struggle
• undertaking
• throes
• striving
• trial and error

whirl

2 of 2

verb

ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stir
• swirl
• wash
• shake
• whisk
• churn
• whip
• agitate
• wheel
• beat
• reel
• paddle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spin
• turn
• swing
• twirl
• rotate
• swirl
• twist
• roll
• revolve
• wheel
• swivel
• pivot
• screw
• wind
• crank
• reel
• unscrew
• twiddle
• circulate
• coil

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

• rotate
• revolve
• spin
• twirl
• turn
• roll
• curl
• circle
• swirl
• wheel
• gyrate
• curve
• pinwheel
• pirouette
• wind
• round
• twist
• spiral
• coil
• ring
• circulate
• twine
• orbit
• encircle
• pivot
• swivel

4

as in to speed

to proceed or move quickly

cars whirling by on the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• speed
• hurry
• rush
• scurry
• fly
• travel
• trot
• jump
• drive
• chase
• race
• buzz
• zip
• blow
• run
• scoot
• blast
• dart
• step
• scuttle
• rip
• breeze
• hurl
• dash
• tear
• zoom
• motor
• jog
• bowl
• course
• whisk
• rustle
• shoot
• hurtle
• ram
• hustle
• bolt
• jet
• hasten
• blaze
• hie
• bundle
• gallop
• crack (on)
• career
• belt
• bustle
• careen
• hare
• rocket
• nip
• barrel
• hump
• flit
• beat it
• get a move on
• pelt
• highball
• make tracks
• shake a leg
• bomb
• step on it
• scamper
• cannonball
• hotfoot (it)
• streak
• whiz
• accelerate
• stampede
• sprint
• quicken
• scud
• step out
• beetle
• scuffle
• catch up
• outrun
• overtake
• outstrip
• fast-forward
• outpace
• arrow
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• crawl
• creep
• poke
• drag
• linger
• hang (around or out)
• poke
• lag
• dawdle
• stroll
• loiter
• shuffle
• tarry
• amble
• saunter
• plod
• slow (down or up)
• lumber
• dillydally
• decelerate
• dally

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spin
• swim
• turn
• reel
• swirl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collect
• steady
• settle
• calm

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of whirl

Noun

The latter event allowed the children of military families, first responders and educators to lace on skates for a whirl. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 14 June 2026

Women whirl in a slow circle as the music drifts up toward the Milky Way. — Shilo Urban, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026

Verb

For much of the past week, all that Colombia had been able to agree upon was the pre-eminence of Luis Diaz, who remained a whirling dervish throughout the match as his side’s outstanding player. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 24 June 2026

That’s the question that has been whirling around Hollywood since the news broke that Amazon MGM Studios was dropping the feature just months after Amazon entered into a $50 billion investment with Sam Altman’s OpenAI. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026