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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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
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
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 Firefighters witnessed a rare ‘ash devil’ while battling the Trinity fire in San Bernardino County — a whirling column of hot ash and embers created when rising heat meets shifting winds. Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026 The video then cuts to two Apache helicopters whirling up. Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 May 2026 Festivities typically include parades, street food, block parties, mariachi competitions, and baile folklórico, or folkloric ballet, with whirling dancers wearing bright, ruffled dresses and their hair tied with shiny ribbons. Todd Feurer, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026 The whirling metal blades dominate the front yard with more frenzy movements than a four-year-old rushing to the bathroom. Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirling
Adjective
  • And then there are the uptempo perennials that made Highland, California the giddiest place on earth.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 19 June 2026
  • Alpha Camp − Nikki Hru, Maddy Jones, Leiya Pillitteri − had seemed giddy with confidence before the flaming arrow competition.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Rumors of guest list drama are swirling Unsurprisingly, Swift and Kelce have been tight-lipped about wedding details, but keeping an event this huge under wraps is an uphill battle.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
  • In May, confirming rumors that had been swirling for months, Anthropic’s life sciences lead Eric Kauderer-Abrams publicly acknowledged that the company is building out its own wet labs and hiring biologists to run its own basic research.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • With menus inspired by the seasons, rotating dishes, bold flavors and comforting classics adorn the menu, like their famous crispy fried chicken and their shrimp and grits.
    Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Accommodation includes two owner’s suites—one with a rotating bed, the other with a reflecting pool—a spacious full-beam VIP, and four guest cabins.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The innovation used a revolving cylinder and a reversible wringer to separate and clean clothing.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • For those carrying tens of thousands of dollars in revolving debt, those interest charges can make the repayment process feel like a moving target.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Taylor loves her Easter eggs, and there are rumors flying that Madison Square Garden is simply a bold ploy to redirect fans’ (and the media’s) attention away from where her true nuptials will be.
    Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • So, at this point, the town of Calistoga doesn't seem willing to take a chance that flying cars will be showing up any time soon.
    John Ramos, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Just like in the teaser, there are several nods to the magical world from the original film from self-spinning spoons to umbrella dives off a roof, and of course, midnight margaritas.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2026
  • Common illusions at sea include ships appearing as spinning in circles or sailing on land, posing dangers to commercial maritime vessels trying to navigate.
    Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Then came illness on a boiling-hot day, which left him dizzy and depleted of energy.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 8 June 2026
  • During the day's exploring, employ the buddy system and look out for signs of heat illness like feeling dizzy, experiencing nausea or muscle cramps and sweating with cool and clammy skin.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Roast until the berries soften and the juices become syrupy, 30-35 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
    Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 22 June 2026
  • The Zoroastrian high priest responded by stirring a pinch of sugar into the milk without spilling a drop.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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