whirl 1 of 2

1
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point the whirl of the mechanical ride made him dizzy

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2
3
4
as in try
an effort to do or accomplish something I'm pretty good at fixing things, so how about if I give it a whirl?

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whirl

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to stir
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly whirled the chocolate syrup into the milk with a spoon

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2
as in to spin
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis the figure skater whirled his partner with effortless grace

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3
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5
as in to swim
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around my mind whirled from all of the excitement

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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
Noun
Revolutions roiled America and Europe for a half-century, but Jefferson held fast to noting weather’s daily whirl. Sara Georgini, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2025 Zemlinsky, who also mentored Schoenberg, discerned real promise in Mahler-Werfel but chided her for getting distracted by the social whirl. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Verb
The formations, which span an area as large as Texas, can be seen in images taken by NASA and European Space Agency orbiters that whirl around the red planet. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 25 Jan. 2025 The standards that emerged then released us into a flow of imagery that whirls us through our decades, our eras, our changing landscape. E.l. Doctorow, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
  • Gerrit Cole's Tommy John surgery created one more opening in the rotation.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Just as the Miami Heat was finding some stability in its rotation, more injury issues have popped up ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In other words, bills still need to be paid no matter the confusion of politicians eager to distort the pricing mechanism that organizes the market economy.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The infected person may experience anxiety, confusion, agitation and hallucinations, per the health agency.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The news, which surfaced late last week when letters to these vendors from Chief Procurement Officer Sharla Roberts were shared with the media, caused an immediate stir and prompted some aldermen to publicly advise contractors not to comply with the request.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Fans of this show based on a treatment by the legendary Bruce Lee caused enough of a stir that it was eventually renewed for Max exclusively, airing a third season on the streaming service.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The restart and the end of Larson’s triple try After winning Friday night’s Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200, Larson started 17th Saturday.
    DAVID J. NEAL, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Yarden Garzon led the Big Ten in 3-point shooting (41.5 percent on almost seven tries per game), while fifth-year guard Sydney Parrish and Penn State transfer Shay Ciezki also looked confident from long distance.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Rumors of a romance first swirled after the duo were photographed in November 2024 at a Halloween party, that .Paak captured on Instagram.
    Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The Fed last week left interest rates unchanged, an acknowledgement of the uncertainty swirling around the economy.
    Lucia Mutikani, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Much like George repeating his intern year, this season was kind of spinning its wheels.
    Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2025
  • With Atletico midfielder Koke attempting to cover the distance, Cardoso spins his marker and pushes the ball forward, creating separation on the halfway line.
    Elias Burke, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The dining room on the floor below has deep red carpets, gold chairs, burl wood walls in a herringbone pattern and reflective metallic paint on the ceiling that intensifies the rotating 360 degree views.
    Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Visit The Danville Museum Of Fine Arts And History For a crash course in Danville history, plus access to a rotating lineup of fine art exhibits, the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History is a one-stop shop for all things Danville culture.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Without intervention in the form of sustainable solutions, this trend could speed up at a more harmful rate.
    Hany Naeem, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • This not only speeds up the workflow but also enhances creative decision-making on the fly.
    Nancy Pulciano, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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