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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
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
4
as in flying
to proceed or move quickly
cars whirling by on the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of whirling
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
All that was whirling around my head one night when Mark Tamburino started playing this guitar part.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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
All that was whirling around my head one night when Mark Tamburino started playing this guitar part.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirling
Adjective
-
That’s why Adams wasn’t exactly giddy when the road-warrior Rams defeated the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round or the Chicago Bears in last weekend’s Divisional Round.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
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There is regret for not having spent more time in Rwanda’s beautiful capital, a mounting excitement about entering its wildscapes, and the giddy anticipation for my first sighting of a mountain gorilla in its natural habitat.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cook, swirling skillet occasionally and reducing heat if browning too quickly or if oil is smoking, until deep golden brown underneath, about 5 minutes.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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As the Chiefs’ offseason got off to an earlier-than-normal start, Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending ACL injury and the uncertainty swirling around Travis Kelce’s future are being closely watched in Kansas City.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Bake tart on baking sheet, rotating front to back halfway through, until almonds and crust are deep golden brown, 45–55 minutes.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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For the remainder of the final season, Penny Marshall was paired with rotating guest stars for a series of comedic misadventures.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Old GPUs from Club name Nvidia are more than holding their value, which ends the big bear case revolving depreciation.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
-
There’s also a revolving cast of characters, like musical theater snob Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), her pianist brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), and Troy’s puppy-dog-esque best friend Chad Danforth (Corbin Bleu), all with varying levels of excitement about Troy’s sudden interest in arpeggio scales.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Quayle said that partially because of new restrictions on Newark flying, United will have aircraft available.—
Ted Reed,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
However, on January 29, the Black Hawk was flying following an FAA memorandum which allowed it to be turned off.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The buildings are packed with head-spinning amounts of material (OpenAI says the fiber-optic cable in its Stargate data center in Abilene, Texas, could circle the Earth 16 times) and designed from the ground up for AI.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Bainbridge spent about a year spinning her wheels.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Signs of dehydration include dry mouth and throat, infrequent urination and feeling dizzy when standing up.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
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Some people may feel dizzy or faint when working out in a fasted state, which can be dangerous if lifting heavy weights.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Bring to a gentle simmer; cook, stirring occasionally and reducing heat if needed, until flavors meld, 10–15 minutes.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook uncovered without stirring.—
Kelly Brant,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirling. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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