reeling 1 of 2

adjective

as in giddy
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down the blood donor experienced a reeling sensation after standing up too quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reeling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of reel
1
as in spinning
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in staggering
to move forward while swaying from side to side got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 reeling
Adjective
Even if Lee were sober and thinking straight, her alluring, blows-hot-and-cold Betty Jo would be impossible for a guy like Lee — reckless, reeling, distractible — to resist. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
From one disaster to the next Beals is like a modern California Odysseus, reeling from one era-defining disaster to the next, trying to maintain her sense of perspective and her sense of humor through it all. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 The strip of multimillion-dollar oceanfront properties, along with much of the Southern California coastline, was already reeling from Hurricane Marie in September. — Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026 While the pop culture world is still reeling over Kelly Clarkson’s feud with a Brooklyn store, there’s a new online row bubbling up on X between Kacey Musgraves and Kristi Noem. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 Can the Buccaneers somehow find their first victory of the season, or will the Cowboys seize an opportunity to roll on a reeling team? — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Eden Prairie and Edina have also been reeling from gun violence, including Friday night's double shooting outside Eden Prairie High School's homecoming game, and a shooting outside a gas station in the city Monday night. — Jason Rantala, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 The New York Yankees were still reeling from a nasty gut punch — a 1-0 loss to the rival Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on Saturday night. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 At that time, the company’s Fisher-Price, Barbie and American Girl brands were struggling to connect with changing consumer tastes and Mattel was reeling from the recent bankruptcy of Toys R Us. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026 Iranian leaders believe that the United States is reeling, that the world is sympathetic to their cause, and that their citizens support them. — Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeling
  1. giddy
  2. spinning
  3. staggering
  4. dizzy
  5. lurching
  6. whirling
  7. weaving
Adjective
  • However, between a two-game injury absence for Gaines and Riley taking it to another gear, the 5-foot-10 running back is now giving Bronco fans giddy memories of 2024 Ashton Jeanty.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This story of an artificial intelligence in extreme existential crisis is primarily constructed for MCU superfans, the kind who get giddy over Easter eggs and can recite reams of backstory minutiae off the top of their domes.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of giddy
Verb
  • Antetokounmpo also blocked a Noah Clowney dunk attempt a few minutes later, and then got the ball back for a spinning finger roll on the other end.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Use one of the big red buttons to listen to whatever is spinning live on NTS Channel 1 and Channel 2, or scroll through a rotary dial to listen to one of 16 music-only radio streams.
    — Kevin Cortez, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of spinning
Verb
  • As the deli’s surveillance video rolled, his client went from calmly standing at the counter with a bottle of Gatorade to staggering to the floor, clutching his leg and tearing at his pants.
    — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hands and small heads.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Definition of staggering
Adjective
  • To that end, there are questions about whether Mayich and his teammates had access to sufficient water and the degree of attention ASU paid to his initial symptoms, including feeling dizzy.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Back in June, Richie cut a performance short after speaking on stage about feeling dizzy, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported at the time.
    — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of dizzy
Verb
  • In 1932, Carlos (Milo Quifes) is a young man in Grenada at a time when Spain is lurching uncomfortably towards an ever-increasing spiteful intolerance of homosexuality.
    — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe this is what the Chargers are — lurching, sputtering and unable to consistently move the football, despite an offensive overhaul packed with lofty expectations.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of lurching
Adjective
  • The magnetar was initially surrounded by a whirling disk of matter, funneling from its inner edge onto the stellar remnant.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of whirling
Verb
  • With a bigger budget from Netflix, Sy and Leterrier leaned further into the show’s superhero-like qualities, expanding its universe beyond the novels of Maurice Leblanc and weaving some futuristic elements.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • By weaving these stories together, Cuarón used the epic’s themes of exile and separation to provide a fresh take on Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel.
    — Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaving

Browse Nearby Words

reeled off
reeling
reeling off
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Cite this Entry

“Reeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeling. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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