whirling 1 of 2

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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
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 Sometimes hawks rise above Helm’s whirling bar cloud – opportunists. Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025 All that was whirling around my head one night when Mark Tamburino started playing this guitar part. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025 Perhaps more than any other individual in the whirling sphere of fashion, Margareta van den Bosch catapulted high-low dressing. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 Here, the tarantella is by turns gleeful and demonic — a frantic dance of the doomed, whirling through a mist of contemporary clangor. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 But then Freeland induced Logan O' Hoppe to hit a grounder to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, but Tovar's throw to second was low, forcing Ritter to make a difficult catch at the bag and make a whirling throw to first. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025 The Helix has taken more than 1,000 piloted flights this year, and its maker has trained 200 people to fly this unique aircraft with eight electrified rotors whirling on a pair of detachable wings. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Sep. 2025 There will be a huge tornado in whirling fabric and a room dedicated to Oz. Laura Bannister, Curbed, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirling
Adjective
  • The vibe was convivial and giddy, like a summer-camp reunion.
    Anna Russell, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • California Republicans, going into their annual convention in September, were almost giddy about the redistricting fight, calling it a gift for momentum and unity.
    Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The move enraged both civilians and public officials throughout the country, with questions swirling about Stokes’ qualifications.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • With Mendoza’s stock climbing and the Jets still searching for answers at quarterback, speculation is already swirling about what this move could mean.
    Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • With over 60 flavors and rotating seasonal releases, choosing which of the company's ice cream to bring home can make the freezer aisle at the Piggly Wiggly feel like the final round of a high-pressure, high-stakes game show.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The venue will also hold a regular rotating residency in swing jazz with The Flood, The Sazerac 5, The Micro Brew Swing Band, and Old Sam & The Teardrops.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Despite a disappointing record, there has been room for optimism among Giants fans, revolving mainly around the franchise’s rookie talents.
    Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Creating a revolving load fund for affordable housing projects.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The evangelical missionary has been working with Crisis Response International, flying in resources to Jamaica at his own expense, said Sean Malone, CRI founder.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Three years later, 4,300 miles from home, Neal was flying the second-largest plane in the world.
    Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Washing for too long and spinning at the highest final spin rate causes wear and tear on clothes.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
  • College football’s coaching carousel is spinning faster and faster as the regular season enters its final month, and the breeze coming off it can be felt in Minnesota.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Symptoms can include vomiting more than three times a day, feeling constantly dizzy and lightheaded and losing weight.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Traditionally, Sean Payton’s teams deploy a revolving personnel carousel that can leave opposing defensive coordinators dizzy.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Like something stirring within a stone, or the stone itself.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The feature opens as Magda’s son returns from the front to this world without men, with his arrival stirring a growing unease among the group.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirling. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on whirling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!