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
Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2025
Every minute or so, the quiet is broken by a mechanical whir, as motors automatically reposition the panels to track the sun’s path across the sky.
—IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2025
Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
The sound of whirring sewing machines soundtracked her childhood.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
The whir of drumsticks and the beating of drums mesmerized the audience as the curtains opened on the first Harmony Festival put on by the Korean American Association of Laguna Woods.
—Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2025
Every minute or so, the quiet is broken by a mechanical whir, as motors automatically reposition the panels to track the sun’s path across the sky.
—IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
The lights were off, and the overhead projection screen illuminated by a whirring tan-and-gray reel of film that 9-year-old Marcus Sedberry handled while standing in the back of the classroom.
—Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
The sound of whirring sewing machines soundtracked her childhood.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Verb
-
The grand ballroom of the Austin Film Society's 40th anniversary gala hummed with energy.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
-
The Fed has kept interest rates steady for several months now as the U.S. economy continues to hum along better than many had expected.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
In a clever flex of corporate synergy, Apple promoted its first summer blockbuster with the release of a haptic trailer that imitates the purr of an F1 engine in the palms of your hands.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
17 June 2025
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Baldwin’s husky purr of a voice sets the table for the events of the film, before settling back to pop in every now and then with an omniscient insight or unspoken truth.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
On a sunlit slope above the Aegean, the ruins of an old Greek estate whisper stories of power, legacy, and familial pride.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
-
What was once spoken only in whispers, if at all, by our mothers and grandmothers, is now trending on TikTok.—
Time,
Time,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
The celebrities are gone, the buzz has faded, and many SPACs are coming from serial sponsors who are, well, just a little dull.—
Luisa Beltran,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
-
And others may have seen critical online buzz about the Squid Game season 3 ending that turned them off from watching the program.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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