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as in staggered
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
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Recent Examples of reeled
Lewin said views of the lake reeled them in.
—
Larry Seward, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The delegations gathered on Wednesday as Ukraine reeled from a major Russian drone and missile bombardment on Monday night, which Ukrainian officials said caused serious damage to the country's energy grid.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
The cases remained unsolved for decades as the sleepy Long Island community reeled over the possibility of a serial killer lurking in their midst.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In the first two months of the Covid pandemic, as markets reeled, the Federal Reserve purchased $580 billion in agency MBS.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Hours into the Administration, the Coast Guard reeled from the abrupt dismissal of the then Commandant, Admiral Linda Fagan.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The film crashed down onto Earth at a moment as audiences worldwide reeled from the helplessness of their own global crisis.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2026
The entrepreneur spent his final high school years attending an affluent South African boys school—surrounded by peers who later became politicians and award-winning novelists—while the rest of the country reeled from apartheid.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025
The groundbreaking Weimar-era Austrian filmmaker left his country when the Nazis came to power, but he was reeled back in just a few years later, and began making movies under the auspices of Joseph Goebbels.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
Larry Seward, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The delegations gathered on Wednesday as Ukraine reeled from a major Russian drone and missile bombardment on Monday night, which Ukrainian officials said caused serious damage to the country's energy grid.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
The cases remained unsolved for decades as the sleepy Long Island community reeled over the possibility of a serial killer lurking in their midst.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
In the first two months of the Covid pandemic, as markets reeled, the Federal Reserve purchased $580 billion in agency MBS.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Hours into the Administration, the Coast Guard reeled from the abrupt dismissal of the then Commandant, Admiral Linda Fagan.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The film crashed down onto Earth at a moment as audiences worldwide reeled from the helplessness of their own global crisis.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2026
The entrepreneur spent his final high school years attending an affluent South African boys school—surrounded by peers who later became politicians and award-winning novelists—while the rest of the country reeled from apartheid.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025
The groundbreaking Weimar-era Austrian filmmaker left his country when the Nazis came to power, but he was reeled back in just a few years later, and began making movies under the auspices of Joseph Goebbels.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeled
Verb
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The Ram spun back onto the road and toward the Altima as it was being driven west on Route 2, state police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
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On the 5th hole, a 110-yard Par 3, Shipley spun a wedge shot past the pin and watched the ball roll back into the hole, the first ever ace since the league launched last year.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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They were staggered, self-pitying, and seemingly traumatized by the denouement of the Joe Biden years.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Ware has since moved to a bench role and Spoelstra has staggered the minutes of Adebayo and Ware for 16 straight games.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Last week, a 13-year-old boy swam for hours to shore to get help for his mother and siblings after the family was swept out to sea.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Owen also swam on the winning 200 medley and 400 free relay teams.—
Todd Holcomb,
AJC.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The big polar bear lurched forward, hitting top speed in two strides.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
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As Matt Woosnam reflected recently, the Premier League’s feel-good story has lurched into night terrors.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Nyla Brooks scored 21 points, Nyla Harris added 19 and North Carolina rolled past Wake Forest.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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In addition, up to $35,000 of unused 529 funds can be rolled tax- and penalty-free into a Roth IRA for your nephew, subject to various rules.—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reeled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeled. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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