coiled 1 of 2

adjective

as in coiling

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coiled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of coil
as in curled
to follow a circular or spiral course a vine coiling around a pillar

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 coiled
Verb
This species spends most of its time coiled around tree branches more than 30 meters (100 feet) high, descending during the night to prey on birds, small mammals, frogs, and other reptiles on the forest floor. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026 As management continues to prove themselves, multiples are coiled to go higher. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 30 July 2026 For example, a gardener may not see a snake coiled among the plants. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 Beach waves run the gamut from tight and coiled to long and easy, all depending on your hair type. — Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 4 July 2026 Probably the most stylish climber in the professional peloton, flowing and coiled, Del Toro stunned in last year’s Giro. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026 These coiled, shelled relatives of squid and octopuses were abundant predators, hunting in the same waters as fish, turtles, sharks and extinct marine reptiles called plesiosaurs. — Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026 Cottonmouths can be spotted swimming in the water, coiled on the bank, or in vegetation along the shore. — Jack Armstrong, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 3 June 2026 Their hair was held back in a low bun and coiled in exactly the same way, and their blue eyes were darkly lined, that intensity counteracted with their matching rosy lip look. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coiled
  1. spiral
  2. curled
  3. spiraling
  4. curved
  5. swirling
  6. looping
Adjective
  • But your first goal is to make sure that one unexpected bill doesn't trigger a debt spiral — even $25 per pay period is a start.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Queen conchs live in spiral, sandy-colored shells with a bright pink or orange interior.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of spiral
Verb
  • Women figured prominently in many of Mansour’s works, such as the 1984 Flight to Egypt, depicting a mother curled over her sleeping baby.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Mosses and lichens filled the hollows, while yellowish dead man’s fingers — a spooky and thus aptly named fungus — curled among low-growing rhododendrons that perfumed the air with warm, woody notes.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of curled
Adjective
  • Libfeld brought a massive, spiraling kudu horn to practice with at a recent Torat Emet shofar class.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Aside from a spiraling Wanda, there was also an onslaught of high-profile cameos, which almost felt like fandom wish fulfillment designed to keep us entertained when Wanda wasn’t around.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of spiraling
Verb
  • Several other curved, slender bones were soon found nearby, according to pictures shared with the station.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Thierry Henry curved away from defenders, Cristiano Ronaldo attacked their blind side and Kylian Mbappe outran them.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of curved
Adjective
  • Long, parallel avenues organize the space into legible districts —lending order to the swirling movement — with the oculus serving as a useful center of orientation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This arrangement was decorated with swirling crystal designs; additionally, a spiral of crystals wrapped around the style’s towering stiletto heel.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of swirling
Adjective
  • The 35-year-old missed with a looping, 72-mph curveball on the first pitch in their third matchup.
    — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Australian singer-songwriter Tash Sultana presented an emotional and powerful mid-afternoon set with soaring guitar solos and vocals, live looping and musical dexterity that left the audience stunned in the best way possible.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Definition of looping

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Cite this Entry

“Coiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coiled. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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