1
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point
the whirl of the mechanical ride made him dizzy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in confusion
a state of mental uncertainty
so many changes at once had her all in a whirl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stir
a state of noisy, confused activity
lost an earring in the whirl of the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to rotate
to move in circles around an axis or center
the gambler held his breath as the roulette wheel whirled
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly
cars whirling by on the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whirl
Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2025
Watching the pros skate up and down those 14-foot walls and whirl through midair was an eye-opening experience and interesting to see that even the most gifted skaters can fall.
—Lonnie Burstein Hewitt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
As a writer-producer on The Shield and then the creator, showrunner, and main writer on Sons of Anarchy, Sutter perfected an ultraviolent blend of sentimentality, nihilism, and masculinity that whirled around his characters like so much cigarette smoke and motorcycle exhaust.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirl
Noun
In the last month, 1,000 people snagged this spinner from Amazon, and this early Black Friday deal is the perfect time to give it a whirl of your own (pun intended).
—Verb
These men, these whirling arms, are framing what’s to come, feeding the presses, day after day, pounding stories into brains.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
-
Choose from four neutral colors—classic black, chocolate brown, light pink, or a creamy white—to add to your wardrobe rotation.—
-
The Royals are expected to enter the 2026 seasonn with a potential starting rotation of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Bubic and Cameron.—
Noun
-
Multiple helpers can slow response during urgent scams and create confusion when fast decisions matter.—
-
The category confusion continued this year.—
Noun
-
The project will receive nearly $70 million in tax-increment financing that created a stir among rival casino properties in Reno and was ultimately approved in a 5-2 vote last May by the city’s redevelopment agency.—
-
The hot egg coffee might look a bit murky, but is very sweet and creamy, with a layer of coffee at the bottom that gives a strong hit at the end despite a good stir.—
Noun
-
Zach LaVine scored 15 but missed six of his seven 3-point tries as Sacramento went 7 for 27 from long range.—
-
The Traitors murder the Faithful one by one each night in secret, while the Faithful try to uncover the Traitors and banish them from the game.—
Verb
-
In the days after the news of the split was made public, rumors swirled that Alix was linked to another NFL player — New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart — after a photo circulated online that appeared to show Dart sliding into the influencer’s DMs.—
-
Rumors swirled, but 63-year-old veteran businessman Greg Abel was ultimately named his successor in 2025.—
Verb
-
Advancing to the bonus round, Alison spun the wheel again and managed to solve an eight-letter puzzle with just three letters on the board.—
-
From trad wives to spin classes to caregiving, Smithuijsen reveals how late stage capitalism strips women of agency and traps them in endless cycles of empty consumption and thankless labor.—
Verb
-
However, don’t be surprised if Miami rotates cornerback in this game.—
-
The Patriots have rotated their linebackers next to Robert Spillane all season with Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu and Jahlani Tavai all seeing snaps.—
Verb
-
His arm was pinned into the back window of a car as a suspect sped away, dragging him across the pavement for about 100 yards, according to court documents.—
-
By speeding up the transit time of your stomach contents, fiber may reduce the amount of time that stomach acid can irritate your esophagus, Dilley added.—
Cite this Entry
“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share