swirl 1 of 2

Definition of swirlnext
1
as in to stir
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

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2
as in to turn
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

swirl

2 of 2

noun

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 swirl
Verb
Even so, rumors have begun swirling that the rapper has gotten back together with his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Berlingeri. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 Feb. 2026 Ahead of the halftime show, rumors swirled that Bad Bunny would don a dress, paying tribute to the LGBTQ icons of his native Puerto Rico. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
Inevitably, Big Ant soon comes crashing back down to Earth and the swirl of anger and sorrow that await him there; inevitably, Lil Ant and Lozita are forced to face his unhappiness, and figure out how to react. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026 Every inch of the pop star was covered in a mesmeric yellow, black and red swirl that looked like animal print on acid. Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirl
Verb
  • But recent incidents involving the driverless cars have stirred controversy.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Your 6th House of Labor hosts mental Mercury, which squares rebellious Uranus in your 9th House of Journeys, stirring tension between tradition and modernization.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Will this race and the other changes create an opportunity for NASCAR to turn the page on its difficult 2025?
    Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The new food pyramid has turned things upside down.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • This cut has the coolness of a long, rock-and-roll shag, but floatier layers and romantic, face-framing pieces, or curtain bangs, to bring it into 2026.
    Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The BeerPAN camera instead shoots 65 x 24-mm frames on standard 35-mm film, with a 36-exposure roll yielding about 20 shots.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Use a broom or vacuum cleaner with the rotating beater bar turned off (suction and stationary brush only).
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The central bank faces shifting dynamics this year, with a rotating cast of regional presidents that seems titled toward a more aggressive posture on fighting inflation and a chair-designate, Kevin Warsh, who is likely to push for lower rates.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Roupp won the fifth rotation spot out of camp, pitched well to begin the season, then got absolutely shelled at Dodger Stadium on June 8.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Jones will team with second-year outside linebackers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen — along with some outside additions — in the pass rushing rotation in 2026.
    Mike Kaye February 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Taken together, these features strongly suggest the object was part of a bow drill — a device that spins a shaft using a bow and string to create rapid back-and-forth rotation.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The elusive, incredibly difficult jump involves launching forward, spinning 4 1/2 times in the air, and landing backwards.
    Alex Connor, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Randolph and Zeta-Jones fare a bit better, while Ortega is mostly stuck in the eddy of repetitive behavior written for her thin character.
    Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
  • The dirt of the desert is circling around in little eddies as the wind blends it together with the starlight.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Sun Ra twirled, his arms and wrists as fluid as a showgirl’s.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Venus, planet of connection, is twirling into your sociable 11th house, enhancing group ties and reminding your independent heart to welcome supportive networks.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirl. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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