as in vortices
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 whirlpools
Guests can expect a thoughtful mix of culinary experiences, sweeping open decks with several pools and whirlpools, and a spa devoted to holistic well-being.
—
Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
All concierge guests aboard the Treasure can enjoy access to the Concierge Lounge and a private sun deck, complete with whirlpools and a small wading pool.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Comprising 300-plus cays, they’re known for spectacular snorkeling spots like Thunderball Grotto, swimming pigs on Big Major Cay, and natural whirlpools near Staniel Cay.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2026
Access saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools for full relaxation.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
In a more complicated setup, gentle currents might merge into whirlpools and eddies.
—Quanta Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
Water vortices, such as whirlpools, are little water whirls that spin around.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 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
These turbulent flows, resembling whirlpools, are notoriously complex and have long posed significant challenges for accurate modeling.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025
Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
All concierge guests aboard the Treasure can enjoy access to the Concierge Lounge and a private sun deck, complete with whirlpools and a small wading pool.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Comprising 300-plus cays, they’re known for spectacular snorkeling spots like Thunderball Grotto, swimming pigs on Big Major Cay, and natural whirlpools near Staniel Cay.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2026
Access saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools for full relaxation.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
In a more complicated setup, gentle currents might merge into whirlpools and eddies.
—Quanta Magazine, 9 Jan. 2026
Water vortices, such as whirlpools, are little water whirls that spin around.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 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
These turbulent flows, resembling whirlpools, are notoriously complex and have long posed significant challenges for accurate modeling.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirlpools
vortices
Noun
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Try the West Fork of Oak Creek hike for a daylong adventure (with 11 rivers to cross), Broken Arrow Trail for an easier (yet no less scenic) stroll, or Boynton Vista Trail, which takes you to the Kachina Woman rock formation, one of the town’s four vortexes.—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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These vortices form in pairs, rotating in opposite directions, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whirlpools.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirlpools. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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