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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Feel like giving SimCity 2000 a whirl? Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025 Yates punched the air, running back and forth across the stage and propelling into leaps and whirls. Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
But then Freeland induced Logan O' Hoppe to hit a grounder to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, but Tovar's throw to second was low, forcing Ritter to make a difficult catch at the bag and make a whirling throw to first. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025 The Helix has taken more than 1,000 piloted flights this year, and its maker has trained 200 people to fly this unique aircraft with eight electrified rotors whirling on a pair of detachable wings. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
  • The Shenzhou-20 astronauts – mission commander Chen Dong, fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie – arrived at Tiangong in April for a six-month rotation.
    Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Sweeney’s boots continued a string of luxe silhouettes in the actress’ shoe rotation.
    Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Toys are supposed to be fun and exciting for children, while some are also educational, but a few products aimed at kids have caused a wave of confusion among adults.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Clarity awaits amid confusion, Libra.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Wendy’s replied, causing a stir online.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The comedian, who caused a stir in September by announcing her departure from SNL just one month before the show's 51st season, now jokes that leaving felt a lot like getting divorced.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Must-try metro Phoenix restaurants Amid a wave of new restaurant openings, put an unusual Phoenix chicken joint, Scottsdale fine dining and Chandler supper club on your try-first list.
    Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Trailing by 11 in the final seconds of the first half, the Chiefs faced fourth-and-goal from the 1, a spot in which Andy Reid should have left the offense on the field for one more try.
    Sam McDowell November 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Intrigue continues to swirl about where a future ballpark, and associated new development, could go after Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax in 2024 that would have helped fund a site in the Crossroads.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
  • But for months, rumors that he was accused of espionage have been swirling inside Cuba.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Under intense pressure from all angles, Gonzalez spun with the ball, taking out three men, and found Doku.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • On nights when Nova’s feeling sleepy, Poppy happily entertains herself with her mountain of toys — or by spinning in happy circles to reclaim that elusive tail.
    Evan Moore November 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • What to expect Foo Bar will have a full-service bar featuring a rotating selection of local beers, plus and assortment of wines and cocktails, according to its website.
    Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 31 Oct. 2025
  • For a gastronomic gem, Riverhorse on Main features a rotating menu that often showcases fresh fish dishes and inventive takes on wild game, accompanied by live music.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Researchers also discovered that dark energy had not always been dominant, appearing to begin its rule and start speeding up the expansion of the universe around 5 billion years ago, or roughly 9 billion years after the Big Bang.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The vehicle reportedly sped into a shopping plaza, where the incident — captured on video — unfolded.
    Bonny Chu , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on whirl

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!