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
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 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 That’s the question that has been whirling around Hollywood since the news broke that Amazon MGM Studios was dropping the feature just months after Amazon entered into a $50 billion investment with Sam Altman’s OpenAI. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 June 2026 With the Splash Into Summer there, there were several sprinklers whirling around near several parts of the path giving people a chance to cool off. Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 16 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 Admittedly, on its best day, Penn Station feels like a whirling dervish. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 May 2026 The video then cuts to two Apache helicopters whirling up. Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirling
Adjective
  • On the flip side, those teams will also be giddy to see Green Bay without Parsons.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Deep breaths of cool marine air kept that giddy feeling going.
    Nancy Glowinski, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Following that will not be straightforward and, in the short-term, Howe’s departure will do little to calm the angst which has been swirling around the club in recent weeks.
    David Ornstein, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • Way back in the spring of 2024, rumors began swirling that BMW was working on what would effectively be its equivalent of the G-Wagen or the Land Rover Range Rover.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Smith has experimented with several rotating analysts through the years; at least three of them (Keyshawn Johnson, Smith and Shannon Sharpe) were let go.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
  • Rather, currency will be extracted that can be used either to upgrade Vault Breaker kits or abilities, or it can be used to purchase rotating store items that can be used in any mode, including the normal extraction modes.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Faithful gather to sing hymns and sip Bloody Marys, and a revolving cast of chaplains, including one who once served at the University of Texas chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, lead services.
    Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
  • Charlotte’s newest revolving sushi bar is poised to open later this week.
    Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Breakker connected with a flying cross body over the barricade on Breakker as Cole talked up Evans developing an edge.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • But years later, some of the highest-flying professional clubs have folded due to financial mismanagement, and dozens of soccer officials have been banned or imprisoned, and numerous teams ensnared in an anti-graft campaign.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • With only 23 minutes of oxygen left, Foale and cosmonauts Vasily Tsibliev and Alexander ‘Sasha’ Lazutkin were able to repair the damage and stop the tumbling spacecraft from spinning wildly out of control.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 25 July 2026
  • Attendees are welcomed into the Nickelodeon activation with bubbles, a slime fountain and a big orange DJ stand spinning cartoon classics.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • If someone becomes dizzy, weak, intensely thirsty, nauseated, confused or unusually tired, move them to a cooler place or go to the hospital.
    Destenie Nock, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • Anyone who becomes dizzy or has trouble breathing while wearing a respirator should move to cleaner air and remove the mask.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Cook gently over low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent scorching the bottom of the pot.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2026
  • The Sun in your 4th House of Home opposes Pluto in your 10th House of Career, stirring pressure around family needs, professional expectations, privacy, and control.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirling. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on whirling

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster