as in vortex
water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center
in The Odyssey, Ulysses is trapped between the six-headed monster Scylla and Charybdis, a deadly whirlpool that threatens to suck in his ship
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Recent Examples of whirlpool
Enjoy the surrounding tropical forest from your private cabin or outside in your own heated whirlpool.
—
Lauren P. Reyes, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
The polar vortex, a whirlpool of Arctic air typically perched atop the North Pole, dislodged and descended into the Midwest causing the bitter cold.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Observations of the two solar system gas giants have revealed that Jupiter's north pole hosts a central polar vortex surrounded by eight smaller vortices, while Saturn has a single, strangely hexagonal, massive atmospheric whirlpool over its north pole.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Its amenities include a restaurant and lounge with indoor and patio seating, a fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool, business center, meeting spaces, and 354 parking spaces.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whirlpool
Lauren P. Reyes, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
The polar vortex, a whirlpool of Arctic air typically perched atop the North Pole, dislodged and descended into the Midwest causing the bitter cold.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Observations of the two solar system gas giants have revealed that Jupiter's north pole hosts a central polar vortex surrounded by eight smaller vortices, while Saturn has a single, strangely hexagonal, massive atmospheric whirlpool over its north pole.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Its amenities include a restaurant and lounge with indoor and patio seating, a fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool, business center, meeting spaces, and 354 parking spaces.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whirlpool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirlpool
vortex
Noun
-
Single-digit cold invades North Around the same time as the heat starts blasting Phoenix, the polar vortex — a system that usually keeps frigid air penned up near the North Pole — is forecast to send its chill deep into the Midwest and East, even bordering some of the Southeast, Maue said.—
Seth Borenstein,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Normally bomb cyclones get their energy from warm ocean waters, but this one will draw power from the polar vortex.—
Seth Borenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whirlpool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirlpool. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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