variants
also whirr
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
a whir coming from the refrigerator
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also whirr
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound
the hummingbird whirred as it hovered over a flower our tires whirred as we traveled over the rough road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whir
Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In the quiet town of Shawnee, Oklahoma, the rapid whir of sewing machines fills one of the last surviving American garment factories.
—Jing Feng, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
Owners gave up on cushioned seating, carpeting and thick curtains, and replaced them with concrete floors and high ceilings — not to mention open kitchens with clanging pots, whirring fans and bellowing chefs that added to the boisterous atmosphere.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
Three descendants of one of those original colonies were startled by the whir of Captain Brett’s fan motor and, with Busby Berkeley synchronicity, dived from the bank into the muddy water.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In the quiet town of Shawnee, Oklahoma, the rapid whir of sewing machines fills one of the last surviving American garment factories.
—Jing Feng, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
In Season 3, Sydney’s are more pronounced with whirring noises while Carmy’s are a bit more subdued.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
Owners gave up on cushioned seating, carpeting and thick curtains, and replaced them with concrete floors and high ceilings — not to mention open kitchens with clanging pots, whirring fans and bellowing chefs that added to the boisterous atmosphere.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Noun
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For the signature bitterness, instead of the classic Campari, Taylor used the deeper Averna—where Campari’s orange bitterness is bright and juicy, Averna’s orange bitterness is a lower hum, like a flourless chocolate cake.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
18 Oct. 2025
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Back at its Utah HQ, where the walls are lined with pink Crumbl University diplomas and the test kitchen hums with invention, the next big flavor is already in the oven.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The purr of an engine was the pulse of performance – until a quiet revolution started taking shape under the surface.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Who makes your nervous system purr instead of spike?—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There was nobody around, and the only sound was the whisper of the wind.—
Rosecrans Baldwin,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Castle Hill Inn is said to be haunted by a female ghost, and whispers have been heard and presences have been felt at The Jailhouse Inn, which served its namesake purpose from 1772 to 1986.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After building a somewhat unexpected level of buzz around the Air Jordan 17 Low in 2024 and 2025, Jordan Brand will continue to put energy into the model by reissuing a pair that hasn’t been seen at retail since 2002, albeit with a slight twist.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
12 Oct. 2025
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Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty’s field-goal attempt went off the right upright and made one of the loudest doinks of the season, creating a buzz among NFL fans on Sunday.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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