Synonyms of whirling

whirling 1 of 2

adjective

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• giddy
• dizzy
• reeling
• woozy
• vertiginous
• weak
• dazed
• swimmy
• faint
• aswoon
• light-headed
• confused
• groggy
• addled
• befuddled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• steady
• stable
• clearheaded

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• swirling
• stirring
• churning
• washing
• shaking
• agitating
• whipping
• whisking
• reeling
• beating
• paddling
• wheeling

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rotating
• twirling
• spinning
• swinging
• swirling
• turning
• twisting
• revolving
• rolling
• swiveling
• pivoting
• wheeling
• winding
• screwing
• reeling
• cranking
• unscrewing
• circulating
• coiling
• twiddling

3

as in revolving

to move in circles around an axis or center

the gambler held his breath as the roulette wheel whirled

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rotating
• revolving
• spinning
• twirling
• turning
• rolling
• gyrating
• circling
• swirling
• curling
• pirouetting
• pinwheeling
• curving
• wheeling
• twisting
• spiraling
• winding
• coiling
• twining
• ringing
• orbiting
• encircling
• circulating
• pivoting
• rounding
• swiveling

4

as in flying

to proceed or move quickly

cars whirling by on the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flying
• hurrying
• scurrying
• rushing
• speeding
• racing
• traveling
• trotting
• buzzing
• driving
• zipping
• jumping
• chasing
• darting
• running
• blowing
• scooting
• blasting
• dashing
• stepping
• scuttling
• tearing
• hurtling
• ripping
• blazing
• zooming
• hurling
• barreling
• rustling
• bowling
• ramming
• careening
• hustling
• careering
• bolting
• bustling
• shooting
• whisking
• jogging
• pelting
• hastening
• rocketing
• coursing
• humping
• galloping
• breezing
• cracking (on)
• haring
• motoring
• jetting
• belting
• bundling
• flitting
• cannonballing
• nipping
• hying
• beating it
• bombing
• whizzing
• highballing
• scudding
• scampering
• stepping on it
• making tracks
• shaking a leg
• getting a move on
• scuffling
• hotfooting (it)
• accelerating
• stampeding
• streaking
• sprinting
• quickening
• beetling
• overtaking
• outrunning
• stepping out
• outstripping
• outpacing
• catching up
• arrowing
• beelining
• fast-forwarding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creeping
• crawling
• poking
• lingering
• dragging
• hanging (around or out)
• poking
• lagging
• shuffling
• dawdling
• strolling
• loitering
• plodding
• ambling
• sauntering
• dallying
• lumbering
• slowing (down or up)
• decelerating
• tarrying
• dillydallying

5

as in spinning

to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around

my mind whirled from all of the excitement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spinning
• swimming
• turning
• reeling
• swirling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collecting
• calming
• settling
• steadying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of whirling

Adjective

The magnetar was initially surrounded by a whirling disk of matter, funneling from its inner edge onto the stellar remnant. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026

Verb

The room grows as silent as this whirling slot machine of a city can get. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026

The sounds of generators humming and chain saws whirling filled the neighborhood Thursday afternoon. — Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Too bad then that Sophie is such a softie, secretly inviting the whirling dervish to their two days of rest and relaxation. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

Twenty-four hours later, my brain is still whirling over yesterday’s stunning news from Merck and Moderna about the success of their personalized mRNA cancer therapy in a melanoma late-stage clinical trial. — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026

The systems also can spin up whirling columns of flame — usually a fire whirl, which Giannaros describes as a dust devil made of fire and heat instead of dust. — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

The Argentina fans roused themselves, whirling their shirts above their heads. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

For much of the past week, all that Colombia had been able to agree upon was the pre-eminence of Luis Diaz, who remained a whirling dervish throughout the match as his side’s outstanding player. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 24 June 2026

After seeing his parents vanquished, young Adam is quickly sent by the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin) with his all-powerful sword whirling away to Earth. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 June 2026