Synonyms of whirling

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• giddy
• dizzy
• reeling
• woozy
• vertiginous
• weak
• dazed
• swimmy
• faint
• aswoon
• light-headed
• confused
• groggy
• addled
• befuddled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• steady
• stable
• clearheaded

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

• swirling
• stirring
• churning
• washing
• shaking
• agitating
• whipping
• whisking
• reeling
• beating
• paddling
• wheeling

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

• rotating
• twirling
• spinning
• swinging
• swirling
• turning
• twisting
• revolving
• rolling
• swiveling
• pivoting
• wheeling
• winding
• screwing
• reeling
• cranking
• unscrewing
• circulating
• coiling
• twiddling

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

• rotating
• revolving
• spinning
• twirling
• turning
• rolling
• gyrating
• circling
• swirling
• curling
• pirouetting
• pinwheeling
• curving
• wheeling
• twisting
• spiraling
• winding
• coiling
• twining
• ringing
• orbiting
• encircling
• circulating
• pivoting
• rounding
• swiveling

4

as in flying

to proceed or move quickly

cars whirling by on the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flying
• hurrying
• scurrying
• rushing
• speeding
• racing
• traveling
• trotting
• buzzing
• driving
• zipping
• jumping
• chasing
• darting
• running
• blowing
• scooting
• blasting
• dashing
• stepping
• scuttling
• tearing
• hurtling
• ripping
• blazing
• zooming
• hurling
• barreling
• rustling
• bowling
• ramming
• careening
• hustling
• careering
• bolting
• bustling
• shooting
• whisking
• jogging
• pelting
• hastening
• rocketing
• coursing
• humping
• galloping
• breezing
• cracking (on)
• haring
• motoring
• jetting
• belting
• bundling
• flitting
• cannonballing
• nipping
• hying
• beating it
• bombing
• whizzing
• highballing
• scudding
• scampering
• stepping on it
• making tracks
• shaking a leg
• getting a move on
• scuffling
• hotfooting (it)
• accelerating
• stampeding
• streaking
• sprinting
• quickening
• beetling
• overtaking
• outrunning
• stepping out
• outstripping
• outpacing
• catching up
• arrowing
• beelining
• fast-forwarding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creeping
• crawling
• poking
• lingering
• dragging
• hanging (around or out)
• poking
• lagging
• shuffling
• dawdling
• strolling
• loitering
• plodding
• ambling
• sauntering
• dallying
• lumbering
• slowing (down or up)
• decelerating
• tarrying
• dillydallying

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

• spinning
• swimming
• turning
• reeling
• swirling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collecting
• calming
• settling
• steadying

Example Sentences

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

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

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