WHIRLING Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

whirling 1 of 2

adjective

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

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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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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as in revolving

to move in circles around an axis or center the gambler held his breath as the roulette wheel whirled

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as in flying

to proceed or move quickly cars whirling by on the highway

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 They got engaged, and later married during the set, surrounded by the artist and whirling revelers. —

Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026 Lensky, danced by Wei Wang, steals your heart while whirling through impossible pirouette sequences. —

Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirling

Adjective

Wayne Brady, Billy Porter and Harvey Fierstein are giddy with excitement for the preview of their upcoming production Encores!

— Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
The future shotstopper was out the door and sprinting in giddy celebration up a street near Bloemfontein before the players had even begun their shimmy.

— Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 9 June 2026