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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 whirlpool
Water vortices, such as whirlpools, are little water whirls that spin around.
—
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Finding a path past and through the Colorado River's rapids, and avoiding becoming stuck in a whirlpool of disagreement and the looming catastrophe posed by an eventual river failure has become urgent.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The Cove has four pools, two whirlpools, two twisty water slides, a family pool, 27 cabanas, a walk-up restaurant, and a swim-up bar.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
The Legionella bacteria, which got its name after the first cases were identified at a Philadelphia hotel that hosted an American Legion convention in 1976, was discovered in the Marriott’s decorative fountain in the lobby, the men’s and women’s locker rooms, swimming pool and spa whirlpool.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirlpool
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Finding a path past and through the Colorado River's rapids, and avoiding becoming stuck in a whirlpool of disagreement and the looming catastrophe posed by an eventual river failure has become urgent.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The Cove has four pools, two whirlpools, two twisty water slides, a family pool, 27 cabanas, a walk-up restaurant, and a swim-up bar.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
The Legionella bacteria, which got its name after the first cases were identified at a Philadelphia hotel that hosted an American Legion convention in 1976, was discovered in the Marriott’s decorative fountain in the lobby, the men’s and women’s locker rooms, swimming pool and spa whirlpool.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirlpool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirlpool
vortex
Noun
-
The frigid blast is courtesy of our old wintertime foe, the polar vortex, Maue said.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The often misunderstood polar vortex is awakening again Along with the cold, rounds of lake-effect snow are forecast for the Great Lakes region and the Northeast.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whirlpool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirlpool. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share