whirl 1 of 2

noun

Definition of whirlnext
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
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

ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l How to pronounce whirl (audio)
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
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
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
Elsewhere in the park, there’s kayaking and fishing in the lake, biking trails and a possible whirl through the century-old American Swedish Historical Museum, which in winter hosts the outdoor Ebba Sparre Sauna pop-up. — Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 2026 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
Verb
The Argentina fans roused themselves, whirling their shirts above their heads. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 There are shirts being whirled all around me as disbelieving fans soak in the celebrations with their squad. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
  1. rotation
  2. confusion
  3. stir
  4. try
  5. swirl
  6. spin
  7. rotate
  8. speed
Noun
  • When And Where To Watch For both showers, plus the Perseid meteor shower, the best time to look is after midnight and through the hours before dawn, when Earth’s rotation turns your location into the direction of incoming meteoroids.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Pitching is always in high demand at the trade deadline and Garrett would be an option as a back end of the rotation starter or a swingman for a contending team.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
Definition of rotation
Noun
  • As last week demonstrated, this is a recipe for confusion, uncertainty, and higher borrowing costs.
    — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The deal acknowledges that even though the two facilities have similar names, the confusion among flyers is minimal.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of confusion
Noun
  • Alessandro Michele‘s reinventions of the iconic Valentino Rockstud shoe caused quite the stir when introduced in his pre-fall 2026 collection — but another one of Michele’s heel styles has been quietly heating up alongside it.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • North West's tour caused a stir online, with some individuals voicing concern about Kardashian and Ye's oldest daughter touring at 13.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • Other notable tech that is transforming fashion apparel and retail includes virtual try-on and AR.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • As several of her peers engaged with adaptive sports for the first time, Hwang felt compelled to give them a try herself.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of try
Verb
  • Now, as fall camp ramps up ahead of the former NFL coach's second season, questions are again swirling about matters away from the field.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Drums banged, flags swirled in the air and a group of supporters cheered, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Brazilian midfielder.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of swirl
Verb
  • Nearby, pottery wheels spin and campers record songs in the recording studio.
    — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Naima was a Muslim convert who likely spun Coltrane’s compass toward non-Western cultures.
    — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • The eclipse path also passes close to Earth’s equator, where the surface rotates faster.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Ice cream cones can also be dipped in a choice of rotating flavors.
    — Hali Smith August 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • The range reflects the uncertainties around factors like how fast the ice melts off the landmass of Antarctica, which is sped up by the warming permafrost, said Obeysekera.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • The delay comes as speeding remains a leading factor in traffic crashes across California.
    — Kristine Lazar, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of speed

Browse Nearby Words

whir
whirl
whirled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on whirl

Nglish: Translation of whirl for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All