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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
The alien world's host stars whirl around each other every 18 days, while the planet itself traces a slow, 300-year orbit around both.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Alex Ronan, Architectural Digest, 1 Jan. 2026
Dru Smith remains a whirling dervish on defense, delivering three more steals.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirl
Noun
And by no means does a whirl of the island via your stomach limit you to plush, tasting-menu joints.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
The alien world's host stars whirl around each other every 18 days, while the planet itself traces a slow, 300-year orbit around both.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
Though lazy Susans are better known for their utility on the table, consider getting one for more flexibility and succinct storage space within corner cabinets for whirling out pots and pans.
—Alex Ronan, Architectural Digest, 1 Jan. 2026
Dru Smith remains a whirling dervish on defense, delivering three more steals.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
-
Inspiring Lifelong Professional Growth Accelerated nursing programs allow students to discover areas of interest during clinical rotations and expose them to speciality options, leadership roles, and advanced-practice opportunities.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2026
-
If nothing else changes, Sacramento’s rotation will be clogged with aging, one-dimensional vets who can’t defend in space or keep up in transition.—
LeBron Antonio Hill,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But the confusion only has increased.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Silence on defense leads to confusion.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Give them a stir to toast in the pork fat, cooking for a minute or two.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Jan. 2026
-
From the earliest glimpses of new color to Valentine’s Day to channeling stir-craziness into spring cleaning, our friends at ALDI have stocked their February Finds to make sure you’re covered for all 28 days—and then some.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On his initial try, Malinin was slightly off axis and skidded out of the axel sideways.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Give this a try, or like the rest of us, wait several weeks after sowing to expect the first seedlings.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By the time Aubry came back for season 38, her head was swirling from her time in the reality television bubble, and her psyche was ready to burst.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Earlier this week, news reports swirled that the local business would be closing its doors and shutting down popcorn production.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The facility outside the city of Isfahan was mainly known for producing the uranium gas that is fed into centrifuges to be spun and purified.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Recently, scientists discovered the fastest-spinning large asteroid in the solar system.—
January 31,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The modular roof bars rotate 90 degrees to become proper crossbars when needed, while the alloy wheels are subtly recessed to sit within the line of the tyre, helping avoid scrapes from inevitable encounters with kerbs or rocks.—
Fergus Scholes,
TheWeek,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Roast in a preheated oven until extra crispy and browned, rotating baking sheet halfway through roasting time, about 20 minutes.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When in doubt, Anna’s likely to speed-dial her sister, Emily.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
As their orbit tightens, the relativistic precession of the stars speeds up, while the planet’s precession slows down, because the stars act more like a single object from far away.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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