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
The spa The 11th floor is dedicated to wellness with an up-to-the-minute gym, a Hyrox partnership, and male and female changing rooms with steam rooms, saunas, and whirlpools.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
There's also seven pools, a swim-up bar, 10 whirlpools and private cabanas on offer.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Trapping light inside liquid crystal whirlpools The team drew inspiration from quantum physics, where electrons occupy specific energy levels inside atoms.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
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
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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
There's also seven pools, a swim-up bar, 10 whirlpools and private cabanas on offer.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Trapping light inside liquid crystal whirlpools The team drew inspiration from quantum physics, where electrons occupy specific energy levels inside atoms.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirlpools
vortices
Noun
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Their findings, published in Nature, confirm a decades-old theoretical prediction that these points—also known as optical vortices—can move faster than the speed of light under specific conditions.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Whirlpools.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirlpools. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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