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
They got engaged, and later married during the set, surrounded by the artist and whirling revelers. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026 Patterns emerged in the observations, captured both close to the star and further away from it, that suggested a companion star was whirling through Betelgeuse’s extended atmosphere. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 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
  • The two men at the forefront of the move to the highest level of NCAA Division I college athletics told their giddy and dancing gridiron student-athletes the historic news on Monday morning.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Like their future disciples in PC Music, Scritti Politti were giddy pop fans who approached the form as self-conscious outsiders, foregrounding its artificiality, pushing its bright colors to new extremes, aiming to make great pop records that also asked probing questions about what pop even is.
    Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Giancarlo Stanton didn’t have much to say Tuesday with reports swirling that Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, planned to abruptly announce his resignation.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • In 1955, Universal arranged for closeted gay heartthrob Rock Hudson to be married off to his agent’s secretary amid swirling speculation about his sexuality.
    Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But Western brands often treat the zodiac like a rotating visual gimmick — 12 animals, 12 years, rinse and repeat.
    Yiling Pan, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Food and drink Onsite restaurant L’Escale is just as much a Greenwich institution as the hotel itself—a proper entity conveniently attached at the hip to your lodging for power lunchers in daylight, special-occasion diners in the evening, and a rotating cast of Hopper subjects always at the bar.
    Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Without Champions League football in 2026-27, there is every chance United will have to borrow money to spend significantly and dip back into their revolving credit facility — essentially, a bank overdraft — which funded much of last summer’s £215million expenditure.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
  • On the positive side, there isn't too much panic on the credit side of the equation yet for the sector, according to one banker, with revolving lines of credit not yet being drawn.
    Seema Mody, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • House Bill 561, sponsored by Hill and focused on blocking Boise from flying a Pride flag, was sent to the House’s amending order after a debate on the House floor.
    Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Feb. 2026
  • A number of the parents who witnessed that 2024 apology are flying in from around the country in hopes of securing a courtroom seat to watch Zuckerberg’s witness testimony.
    Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The crisp writing moves the story at nearly head-spinning pace.
    Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
  • But this night wasn't just about spinning the most.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The thought is feeling dizzy and messy and muddy and tired but still flying.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • That would be Gran Canaria, introduced in the film’s dizzy opening shot.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The dynamic Sun in your 10th House of Career and Status squares rebellious Uranus in your 1st House of Identity, stirring shifts in your visibility.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Curiosity widens your world as the intuitive Moon enters your 9th House of Higher Learning, stirring questions about subjects and plans that reach beyond your daily routine.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Whirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirling. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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