as in spiraling
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1
as in stirring
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly
kept swirling her lemonade until the ice had melted and it was completely watered down
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in rotating
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis
swirled her skirts as she danced the tango
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swirling
Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Its swirling indie-pop hooks and jammy prog-rock ideas are practically written with the vision of people dancing around you, their hands raised in the air.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
Located on the Palouse River in Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site, the waterfall drops 200 feet into a swirling bowl.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Especially The Porter, her swirling silver toast rack.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
How was the rest of the night for you and the rest of your time in Fiji while dealing with a lot of swirling emotions?
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025
All of that swirling and dipping action at the table is more interactive than a typical seated dinner, encouraging easy conversation, even amongst strangers.
—Callie Sumlin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Dec. 2025
Aquazzura’s signature swirling ankle strap curves upward from the sides of the shoe and fastens the 105mm heel with a slim buckle.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 16 Dec. 2025
Because the buffing, spraying and swirling actions required to use powders and sprays increase the risk of inhalation.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2025
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.
—Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Red-orange and fierce in color, high and wide in girth, the flames surged forward, consuming every house, school, church, business, vehicle, bush and bicycle in its path, animated by hundred mile an hour winds and dragged by the swirling clouds of smoke that flushed ahead and settled over our home.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
This comes as sale speculation has been swirling around the brand for months.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
Taking over a 19th-century townhouse with ornamental window frames and swirling wrought-iron balcony consoles, âme doesn’t strike you as a hotel at first.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
The trade deadline is a month away, but the rumors are swirling like gnats on a humid day.
—Stan Son, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Cook, stirring or swirling the pan frequently, until the milk solids turn a light golden brown and the butter smells nutty, about 3 minutes.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The move enraged both civilians and public officials throughout the country, with questions swirling about Stokes’ qualifications.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
This stellar pasta twists around the black hole like spaghetti around a fork, forming a swirling flow of gas and dust known as an accretion disk that gradually feeds the cosmic titan.
—Verb
The clouds have been swirling around Andrews for much of the season.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirling
Adjective
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In our seminar, Bolin later showed a visualization of 3I/ATLAS's orbit around the galaxy — no neat ellipse, but rather a looping, spiraling path distorted by encounters with gas clouds, spiral arms and dark matter.—
Verb
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Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.—
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Wider horizons beckon as the emotional Moon lights up your 9th House of Adventure, stirring a desire to broaden your view through meaningful study and conversation.—
Verb
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Live music adds to the evening energy, particularly on weekends, with rotating performers across Paralía, Luma, the lobby, and the Rum Bar.—
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Every Monday night, Bica hosts an industry night with rotating guest chefs.—
Verb
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The trailer opens with the ominous tones on Also sprach Zarathustra and an image of a Presley nervously twirling his ring and tapping his foot.—
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There was the six-member step team, two girls twirling flags and three more spinning rings.—
Adjective
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On the far right side, a giant elliptical galaxy appears to have a stream that connects it to a group of galaxies that exhibit spiral and disk-like features, with stellar streams abounding in that galaxy group or cluster.—
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This track has more spiral turns than any other track previously created by Andretti.—
Verb
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The next morning, Helen sits at the kitchen table, pinching one of the seed pods that Thiago gave her between her thumb and forefinger and spinning it like a top.—
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One way to understand the head-spinning nature of being an American over the past couple of decades is that this debate—one that history seemed to have settled in Locke’s favor—is alive again.—
Verb
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Two prospectors who had once flown over the area confirmed that, seen from above, the rivers looked like a handful of golden worms twisting through the green.—
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As much a gripping, twisting whodunnit as a heart-wrenching depiction of the aftermath of loss, grief and warped masculinity.—
Adjective
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Launched in February 2020, the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter has been following a looping path around the Sun.—
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Key qualities are the multicolor LED lights and sound machine functions (30 non-looping sounds, by the way).—
Cite this Entry
“Swirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirling. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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