as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
listened to the reassuring purr of the car engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to whisper
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of purr
Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
Take their purrs, for example, which are known to vibrate at frequencies that can reduce stress and soothe anxiety.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The locals purr contentedly after an all-day shift at the pig farm: Let the little baby bird from the city settle in, make herself at home.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Noun
This person was less than purr-fect.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
Take their purrs, for example, which are known to vibrate at frequencies that can reduce stress and soothe anxiety.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Verb
But few of the directors who would join V/H/S over the years that followed introduced a more memorable creature — a birdlike demon who oscillates from purring affection to ravenous rage — or so skillfully tracked the running bodies captured by a running camera.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The locals purr contentedly after an all-day shift at the pig farm: Let the little baby bird from the city settle in, make herself at home.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purr
Noun
-
In the early years of the automobile age, the quiet hum of electric motors, not the explosion of gasoline, seemed inevitable.—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
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Richard Ruelas and Clara Migoya Outside Guthrie's red brick home, bird song was only interrupted by the hum of dozens of running engines from reporters' cars lining the street.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Robinson’s attorneys have ramped up claims of bias as the case has advanced, even accusing news outlets of using lip readers to deduce what the defendant is whispering to his attorneys during court hearings.—
Matthew Brown,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Her lips moved only to whisper to herself.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Medical machinery beeps, carers murmur softly.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
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His father trailed him on the ice, murmuring.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Vincent Hawkins was shouting at officers when one of them shot a tear gas canister at him.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
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In November, LaVine had an altercation with a Kings season ticket holder who shouted angrily at him during a timeout, criticizing his effort and defense in a viral video moment.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Drake was known to chirp at times, too.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Other small birds chirped and tweeted across the sky.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Students gasp at the sight of such a large denomination.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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Students giggled and gasped in disbelief.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Or to sometimes instinctively mouth the words to Christmas carols the kids sang to him with tears or confusion in their eyes.—
Scott Maxwell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
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The opposition’s mainstream leaders still mouth the catechism that change should come by Venezuelan hands, but more are openly courting external pressure to tilt the balance.—
Robert Muggah,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Whaley, who spoke after Parks, expressed a similar sentiment.—
ALEX ROZIER Mississippi Today,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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But Haim read the script, spoke to the filmmaker and, like everyone else, was convinced to join the party.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purr. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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