1
as in rotating
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis
absentmindedly twirled a lock of her hair around her finger
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in revolving
to move in circles around an axis or center
an ice-skater twirling in place
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of twirling
Stephens never plays a mustache-twirling sadist, instead carrying himself with the unbearable confidence of a man truly convinced that his version of abuse and even murder is civilized.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Emmet Sheehan turned in perhaps his best start of the season Thursday, twirling six innings against the San Francisco Giants.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Wow, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) is a mustache-twirling villain right from the jump!
—William Earl, Variety, 15 May 2026
So In Love, she’s been twirling around in the loose, fluttering silhouette, a signature of her preppy-meets-edgy style.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2026
The flowers of Love-in-a-Mist look like ballerina’s skirts twirling in the breeze.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Hands stretched, twirling as if being spun about.
—‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
These problems are so much more than any one mustache-twirling villain could ever hope to be.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Aaron Gordon sat at his locker twirling the tape from his finger, unable to wrap his head around a stunning 119-114 defeat.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Emmet Sheehan turned in perhaps his best start of the season Thursday, twirling six innings against the San Francisco Giants.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Wow, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney) is a mustache-twirling villain right from the jump!
—William Earl, Variety, 15 May 2026
So In Love, she’s been twirling around in the loose, fluttering silhouette, a signature of her preppy-meets-edgy style.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2026
The flowers of Love-in-a-Mist look like ballerina’s skirts twirling in the breeze.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Hands stretched, twirling as if being spun about.
—‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
These problems are so much more than any one mustache-twirling villain could ever hope to be.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Aaron Gordon sat at his locker twirling the tape from his finger, unable to wrap his head around a stunning 119-114 defeat.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twirling
Verb
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The third-year students spent nearly a year developing and refining the engine, which runs through continuous rotating explosions in a circular chamber.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
-
The worst of the severe weather is expected west and northwest of the Kansas City metro, where supercells (large, rotating thunderstorms) capable of producing hail and strong to intense tornadoes are most likely from central Kansas and southeast Nebraska into Iowa and northwest Missouri.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Longtime residents might remember the hot dogs and burgers making their way past eager students on field trips at the National Museum of American History’s revolving Carousel Cafeteria, or the large, greenhouse-like McDonald’s inside the Air and Space Museum.—
Fritz Hahn,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
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So, for borrowers carrying revolving balances, that means the high cost of credit card debt isn't going anywhere either.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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After decades of mathematicians spinning their wheels, the problem suddenly seemed tractable.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
-
Some come out the other side of illness, but most loop through an unpredictable whirlpool, at times within sight of shore, at other moments spinning back out to sea.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Giant titanium face sculptures from previous installations reappear among the vessel surfaces, while elongated, twisting faces hang throughout the space.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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Bystander video posted to Facebook showed two jets making contact in the air, then twisting and careening in the sky before hitting the ground and erupting in a plume of dirt and fire.—
Tom Dreisbach,
NPR,
17 May 2026
Verb
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But surviving in absolute uncertainty, turning from somebody to nobody at the age of forty-three, and starting everything from scratch in another language, seemed an affordable price to pay compared to being paralysed with fear or having to be brave all the time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
Concrete dust clotted the air, turning the afternoon dark.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Either way, the no-show by Hurts, or any current Eagles players for that matter, simply adds to the mysterious status of Brown and the franchise as rumors have been swirling all offseason.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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Rumors are swirling that Pep Guardiola could be leaving Manchester City.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Firefighters witnessed a rare ‘ash devil’ while battling the Trinity fire in San Bernardino County — a whirling column of hot ash and embers created when rising heat meets shifting winds.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
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The video then cuts to two Apache helicopters whirling up.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Twirling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twirling. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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