whirling 1 of 2

Definition of whirlingnext
as in giddy
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down still whirling from the amusement park ride, I needed to sit down

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whirling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of whirl
1
as in swirling
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 rotating
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
4
5
as in spinning
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 whirling
Verb
The swirling, whirling mass approaches like a steam train, picking up thousands of tons of matter on its descent, throwing clouds of snow into the air as its gathers speeds of up to 130 kph (80 mph). Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026 They got engaged, and later married during the set, surrounded by the artist and whirling revelers. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026 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 These men, these whirling arms, are framing what’s to come, feeding the presses, day after day, pounding stories into brains. Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025 It's got a microphone, and a few years ago scientists reported hearing the sounds of a whirling dust devil passing over the rover. Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 26 Nov. 2025 There is no end in sight to the whirling growth of homeowners insurance costs, with premiums expected to increase by 8 percent in 2026 and another 8 percent in 2027, according to estimates shared by John Rogers, chief data and analytics officer at real estate analytics firm Cotality. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025 Waterspouts are whirling columns of air and water mist above bodies of water and can take two forms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirling
Adjective
  • Online, giddy takes on Operation Epic Fury described it as a checkmate move against China, rather than a war of choice against Iran.
    Andy Browne, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Hudson Williams also makes a cameo as one of the giddy skaters, a sweet nod to his actual friendship with Storrie (and, of course, a seemingly necessary offering to the feral studio audience).
    Rima Parikh, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The team also revealed that the resulting dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) fibers exhibit intrinsic softness, with an overall Young’s modulus of 37 MPa, enabling electrically controllable actuation modes with high freedom in bending, compression, and three-dimensional(3D) swirling motions.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026
  • That type of public funding may be harder to come by with so many questions now swirling around Hill and McCrory.
    Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • France currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group.
    Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The brand’s model — rotating weekly flavors, oversized cookies, a pink box designed for unboxing content — was built for social media virality.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • At the same time, Solo Brands conducted a credit agreement restructuring that revised Solo Brands’ capital structure with a $90 million revolving facility, a new $240 million term loan, pay-downs of outstanding amounts and an extended maturity to June 30, 2028.
    Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • This produces a beautiful floating impression and removes the aerodynamic drag brought on by revolving wheel surfaces.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Keep reading to discover all the best fashion sneaker collaborations to scoop up this spring—they’re already flying.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
  • According to Diio by Cirium data, the airline is flying more than 1,100 flights at the airport this month.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The approach could help prevent both the robot and the satellite from spinning or drifting during delicate repairs.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Similar ridges appear along the equators of Dimorphos and Didymos, likely formed by material shed from the spinning asteroids that later settled back onto their surfaces.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Disneyland temporarily closed a large part of Tomorrowland on Tuesday after a hazmat incident near Star Tours and Space Mountain caused several employees to feel dizzy and have trouble breathing.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Physical symptoms can include feeling dizzy or faint; being cold all the time; and irregular menstrual periods.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Mix flour and remaining 1/4 cup Guinness, stirring until smooth.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Versatile enough for a variety of cooking applications, wooden spoons are a staple to have in the kitchen, and this set includes 10-, 12-, and 14-inch sizes perfect for stirring a big pot of soup, sautéing veggies, or mixing up cake batters.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Whirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirling. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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