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

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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?

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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

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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

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3
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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

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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
Especially when his head gave a sickening whirl, blackening for a second, and his limbs seized again. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 24 July 2025 Joel’s recording is not bad at all, but if only someone like Bobby Womack had given it a whirl! Christopher Bonanos, Vulture, 18 July 2025
Verb
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 Mark Harmon also returns as Ryan, Tess’ husband, ever steadfast and supportive of her whirling dervish personality. Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
  • While mopping, its spinning pads apply 12 Newtons of downward pressure and spin at up to 200 rotations per minute (RPM).
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Houston has deployed a six-man rotation while playing this stretch of 13 consecutive games.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • If left untreated, more severe symptoms may appear, including mental confusion, difficulty breathing, convulsions, abnormal bleeding and more, which can lead to death.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025
  • The comedian, who performed as a cast member on the series from 2020 to 2024, reacted to the news of her former colleagues' exits from the show with a mix of confusion and sympathy.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • While the Irish Open was snubbed from this latest National Open status upgrade wave, the golf-mad nation’s key event remains a highlight on the DP World Tour calendar, with venues that as usual stir a bit of wanderlust among golf travelers.
    Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • When season 1 premiered, Noah and Joanne’s first kiss caused quite the stir.
    EW.com, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Follow the directions and you, too, will have smooth, shiny hair on the first try.
    Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Give the easy outfit formula a try in wallet-friendly pieces by the Gap including its Denim Moto Jacket ($98) and High Rise Relaxed Flare Jeans ($90).
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Rumors swirled that the UF Board of Trustees would convene to remove Napier.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The flat triggered the race’s only caution when Kaden Honeycutt spun in response, shaking up the running order.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Performed from a third-person perspective, the perspective of the blues, Nourished by Time spins an old-fashioned yarn about a man working a restaurant job and writing ballads at night.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Following Coulombeau, the visiting chefs will rotate yearly but the concepts will stay the same with brightly colored accent sauces and condiments meant to challenge diners to investigate their own favorite flavor combinations.
    Alissa Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Uranus has largely been defined by data gathered during Voyager 2’s flyby, but another, more detailed visit to the ice giant, which rotates on its side, is overdue to shed light on the planet’s atmospheric dynamics, complex magnetic field and what led to the creation of its extreme tilt and rings.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Mechanical engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a new framework that speeds up the design of shock-absorbing foam materials, used in everything from sports and military helmets to spacecraft landing struts.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Warmer temperatures increase evaporation, drying out rivers, reservoirs, soil and vegetation, and speeding up Earth’s water cycle as more water goes back into the air for precipitation.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

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