as in spiraling
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swirling
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
Fincke identified himself late last month as the one who was sick to end the swirling public speculation.
—Ben Kelly, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Fincke identified himself late last month as the one who was sick to end the swirling public speculation.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
After a walk to hit pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa on a full count, Martin replaced Garcia and got a first pitch pop-up from old friend Adolis García that got caught up in the swirling 18-mph wind.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
Fincke identified himself late last month as the one who was sick to end the swirling public speculation.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Its swirling indie-pop hooks and jammy prog-rock ideas are practically written with the vision of people dancing around you, their hands raised in the air.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
And with Andrew already under investigation and suggestions that Fergie could come next swirling, that puts the princesses in a complicated position.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
Stealing a scene later is Will Poulter as a Christie Smith general store manager, styled in head-to-toe green and a swirling shock of hair like a bitchy queen out of Oz.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
So much so, in fact, that rumors began swirling after the Bully leaks that Ye had been using AI to construct the album.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
On March 31, Amanda and West released a statement on their respective Instagram Stories, addressing the romance rumors that have been swirling for weeks.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
That’s why, when King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis, speculating about his parents possibly also having had cancer started swirling.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, there are questions swirling around when Cook, 65, will retire.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
The talks came as Israel and Iran continue to trade attacks and the possibility of US ground troops entering Iran still appears to be swirling.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
From swirling photons to next-gen tech This work shows that complex light structures don’t always require complex engineering.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
With reports swirling these past few weeks, the corporation confirmed Wednesday that former Google EMEA chief Matt Brittin will take on the most powerful role in British broadcasting, replacing Tim Davie.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Scientists have now made this possible by creating optical tornadoes (also called optical vortices)—tiny, swirling structures of light inside a microscopic system.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
Fincke identified himself late last month as the one who was sick to end the swirling public speculation.
—Ben Kelly, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Fincke identified himself late last month as the one who was sick to end the swirling public speculation.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
After a walk to hit pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa on a full count, Martin replaced Garcia and got a first pitch pop-up from old friend Adolis García that got caught up in the swirling 18-mph wind.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
Fincke identified himself late last month as the one who was sick to end the swirling public speculation.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Its swirling indie-pop hooks and jammy prog-rock ideas are practically written with the vision of people dancing around you, their hands raised in the air.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
And with Andrew already under investigation and suggestions that Fergie could come next swirling, that puts the princesses in a complicated position.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 16 Mar. 2026
Stealing a scene later is Will Poulter as a Christie Smith general store manager, styled in head-to-toe green and a swirling shock of hair like a bitchy queen out of Oz.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
After weeks of romance rumors swirling on social media, Batula and Wilson addressed the fan speculation in their joint Instagram statement.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
So much so, in fact, that rumors began swirling after the Bully leaks that Ye had been using AI to construct the album.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
On March 31, Amanda and West released a statement on their respective Instagram Stories, addressing the romance rumors that have been swirling for weeks.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
That’s why, when King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis, speculating about his parents possibly also having had cancer started swirling.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, there are questions swirling around when Cook, 65, will retire.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
The talks came as Israel and Iran continue to trade attacks and the possibility of US ground troops entering Iran still appears to be swirling.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
From swirling photons to next-gen tech This work shows that complex light structures don’t always require complex engineering.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
With reports swirling these past few weeks, the corporation confirmed Wednesday that former Google EMEA chief Matt Brittin will take on the most powerful role in British broadcasting, replacing Tim Davie.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirling
Adjective
-
Violent confrontations targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota are being driven by outside actors exploiting chaos, not organic protest, according to a protest insider warning that the situation is rapidly spiraling.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Demonstrations broke out over the near-collapse of the rial and spiraling economic conditions but grew to become a larger movement against the regime.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The moody Moon in your 6th House of Effort opposes fiery Mars in your 12th House of Thoughts, stirring urgency around upcoming deadlines, outdated routines, or daily goals.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
When the ale is nearing a boil, put it in another pitcher, pour it very gradually into the pitcher containing the egg mix, while stirring briskly to prevent the eggs from curdling.—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The kitchen runs a very cool rotating culinary collaboration with chefs from Rome’s most avant-garde eateries, alongside pop-up events and live music nights.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Arrange pork chops on top of vegetables and continue to roast until pork registers 145 degrees and vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through roasting.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The world of dance has leapt long in fashion’s collective imagination—but the reign of the ballet flat may, finally, be twirling off.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
-
To stack the deck further, and to spur their champion into action, the writers throw in a sinister trio of private-equity investors who might as well arrive twirling their mustaches.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Whether it’s glazed, smoked, or spiral sliced, serving ham on Easter Sunday is a tradition in many households.—
Katie Riley,
Southern Living,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Robots move more precisely The robot was tasked with reaching multiple target points and following complex paths, including shapes like a pentagon, spiral, and curves.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It was recently formalized in a contract that provides continued access to NWI’s melt-spinning equipment and advanced processing facilities.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Keef spinning his designer wheels and only occasionally touching road.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The latest to join the ranks is nicotinamide mononucleotide—or NMN—a slightly tongue-twisting name that’s been popping up everywhere, especially within celebrity circles.—
Alex Vance,
SELF,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Before the words twisting in her mouth could emerge, a bespectacled cop materialized through the thin line of smoke, speeding past her, toward me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The main performance is scheduled to include aerial acrobatics, bondage, burlesque and drag performers from groups such as The Dragonettes, AKArts Collective and others with hypnotic live looping and vocal music from Morgan Sorne.—
Anne Schrager,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Tight baseline battles, pressure from Shelton and counterattacks from Ruud, using the violent topspin of those big looping forehands.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirling. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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