1
2
as in twirled
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 rotated
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 sped
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 whirled
The journey started as a boy in Chicago, where sirens whirled through Rizzs’ neighborhood when the White Sox won the pennant in 1959.
—
Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
In a desperate attempt to protect her baby, the victim whirled around, confronted Aherne and grabbed the knife in the stranger’s hand, her infant child falling from the changing table onto the floor during the scuffle, cops said.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Here it gets whirled with Parmesan and a handful of herbs that take it to the next level.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025
As a writer-producer on The Shield and then the creator, showrunner, and main writer on Sons of Anarchy, Sutter perfected an ultraviolent blend of sentimentality, nihilism, and masculinity that whirled around his characters like so much cigarette smoke and motorcycle exhaust.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
After a Joey Estes fastball came near his head, Robles whirled around and chucked his bat at the pitcher.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Between events, Diamandis whirled around, making and cementing connections.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
After Smart ran through a checklist and flipped a few switches, the A-Star helicopter's blades whirled to life overhead.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 7 May 2025
Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
In a desperate attempt to protect her baby, the victim whirled around, confronted Aherne and grabbed the knife in the stranger’s hand, her infant child falling from the changing table onto the floor during the scuffle, cops said.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Here it gets whirled with Parmesan and a handful of herbs that take it to the next level.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025
As a writer-producer on The Shield and then the creator, showrunner, and main writer on Sons of Anarchy, Sutter perfected an ultraviolent blend of sentimentality, nihilism, and masculinity that whirled around his characters like so much cigarette smoke and motorcycle exhaust.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
After a Joey Estes fastball came near his head, Robles whirled around and chucked his bat at the pitcher.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Between events, Diamandis whirled around, making and cementing connections.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
After Smart ran through a checklist and flipped a few switches, the A-Star helicopter's blades whirled to life overhead.
—Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 7 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirled
Verb
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That look stirred me and made my heart jump.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Like natural peanut butter, tahini should be stirred before being used.—
Faye Levy,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sun Ra twirled, his arms and wrists as fluid as a showgirl’s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Hannah Mae Speaker, of Portage, twirled on stage as Glinda from The Wizard of Oz.—
Anna Ortiz,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Illini were without two starters and rotated just six players for all but the 57 seconds that freshman guard Brandon Lee was on the court.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Four of the cameras faced the panel, and one rotated to join another fixed on an audience who had been provided NFL jerseys of various teams to wear, but only for the evening.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to a preliminary investigation, the crash occurred when the white Nissan sped south on Virginia Avenue.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
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Streamed live on YouTube, the two and half hour ceremony was (blissfully) commercial free, which sped things up but meant guests didn’t have the usual opportunity to mix and mingle.—
Paul Chi,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Ram spun back onto the road and toward the Altima as it was being driven west on Route 2, state police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
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On the 5th hole, a 110-yard Par 3, Shipley spun a wedge shot past the pin and watched the ball roll back into the hole, the first ever ace since the league launched last year.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Aliens remain topic of interest Questions around the existence of aliens and life beyond Earth have swirled for years, with interest reignited by recent hearings on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAPs.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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As scrutiny over the NBA All-Star Game swirled, Anthony Edwards expressed skepticism that this year’s new format would finally improve the level of competitiveness.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Within seconds, Perez smacked a cellphone out of the man's hand, swung at his head and tackled him to the ground.—
Sheridan Hendrix,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
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Over the past decade, screening guidelines have swung from recommending routine screening to advising against it to landing somewhere in between, and major organizations still don’t all say it the same way.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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City records going back to 2017, released to The Bee, in August show Karl Lysinger’s problems with the city revolved initially around his refusal to buy its water.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
18 Nov. 2025
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Beyond just apartments, the conversation in many races revolved — and diverged — around candidates’ attitudes toward growth in general.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whirled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirled. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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