swirling 1 of 2

adjective

as in spiraling

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

swirling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of swirl
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

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 swirling
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, 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 If none of this piques your interest, spend time in the 8,000-square-foot spa, where a multitude of treatments along with a swirling hydrotherapy circuit and sauna are at your fingertips. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 Carla Guilhem, meanwhile, chose to bring a bit more nature into the space, pairing swirling patterns and bold marbles with blue abstract bird dotting the wallpaper, palm trees and jungle cats on pillows, and more. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026 This is because the material that serves as the building blocks for planets is constantly escaping the swirling platters of gas and dust, or protoplanetary disks, that wrap around infant stars. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026 After that feral beginning, the rest of the album is mostly contemplative, wistful, and understated, amid cascading guitars and various sounds that are at times acoustic or gently swirling. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026 The spacecraft is designed to survive temperatures approaching -290°F (-179°C), methane rainfall and swirling hydrocarbon dust. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The grains also create complex swirling patterns that turns this motion into heat, resulting in chaos or turbulence. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
Now, a new enigmatic 10-sided feature known as the decagon has been spotted swirling on the complete opposite side of the ringed planet. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Early Tuesday morning, Anaheim mayor Ashleigh Aitken started getting a slew of calls and texts — rumors were swirling about a potential landmark day in her hometown. — Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Upholstered in a botanical print of swirling vines instead of a tactile velvet, the lamp takes on a more traditional persona. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026 The stuff our telescopes can track is swirling too fast, forming too quickly into clumps that are too dense, to easily explain. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026 Pink auras over a white base mingle with colorful gemstones, while black accent nails, 3D stars, and swirling details make every finger feel like its own tiny work of art. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026 Starting Friday, the strong wind shear that’s been swirling in the Atlantic all season and keeping most storms at bay is expected to pick up again, wearing away at Dolly. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 Eyewitness footage recorded from the village of Verzeille captured a tornado forming and swirling beneath a violent supercell thunderstorm south of the southern French city of Carcassonne on August 24, 2026. — CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 The swirling foam and the crashing white water behind him resemble a snow avalanche. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirling
  1. spiraling
  2. stirring
  3. rotating
  4. spiral
  5. twirling
  6. looping
  7. spinning
  8. zigzag
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
  • Simmer the pasta in the sauce, gently stirring and tossing occasionally, until the pasta is al dente.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Add tomato paste; cook, stirring often, until darkened in color, 2 to 4 minutes.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of stirring
Verb
  • Electricity travels from the rotating wheels through a custom conductive hub to a solar controller built into the frame.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The wheels need to remain lightweight and precisely balanced while rotating at speeds of up to 6,000 rpm.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of rotating
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
  • The last time these two met in Tuscaloosa was in 2024, when the Tide won 41-34 on Ryan Coleman-Williams 75-yard, twirling touchdown catch-and-run.
    — Justin Williams, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Einstein’s general theory of relativity dictates that a twirling black hole would bring spacetime along for the ride, warping it in a process known as the Lense-Thirring effect.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of twirling
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
Verb
  • Conventional gas centrifuges use spinning mechanical rotors to push heavier atoms outward.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • And get ready for a scene that will hopefully not leave your head spinning the same way that the Earth spins on its axis.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of spinning
Adjective
  • Any number of odd, zigzag examples can be used to make the case that legislative districts in Wisconsin are excessively gerrymandered.
    — Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023
Definition of zigzag

Browse Nearby Words

swirled
swirling
swirls
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirling. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All