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

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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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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
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 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, 4 Sep. 2025 On and on the section goes, a whirling fifty-page stretch of disorientation and disintegration. Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Astronomers using the powerful eye of the James Webb Space Telescope have spotted a previously unknown moon whirling around Uranus, according to NASA. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirling
Adjective
  • Helm rises too, goes as high as possible, gets a little giddy (there are upper limits to Helm’s domain).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The overall impact leaves even a coffee utilitarian like me giddy.
    Editors of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some have likened the controversy surrounding Savin's display of old-time mobsters to the debate swirling around old statues of Confederate generals.
    Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
  • There's plenty of headlines swirling before Game 1 begins Friday at Rogers Centre.
    Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 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
  • Creating a revolving load fund for affordable housing projects.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025
  • According to Bankrate, nearly half of American households have credit card debt and pay more than 20% in interest, on average, on their revolving balances — making credit cards one of the most expensive ways to borrow money.
    Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The conservative backlash isn’t surprising, but we were still left genuinely puzzled by the unshakable belief that a lesbian nun is as far-fetched a notion as a flying elephant.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The wood-free Hyper Core composite walls are finished in automotive grade aluminum outer panels framed out via 11-gauge aluminum corner rails, protecting the trailer from low branches and flying debris.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • By comparison, Seoul Station tells us more about how the zombie virus began while also spinning a tight, impactful story centered on three compelling characters.
    Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The trailer tees up his infatuation rom-com style before spinning into explosive action.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Whirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirling. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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