as in rotations
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point
the twirl of the dancer's skirt mesmerized me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in rotates
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
2
as in revolves
to move in circles around an axis or center
an ice-skater twirling in place
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 twirls
ABC News,
4 May 2026
The unconscious Moon twirls into your 12th House of Whispers, inviting gentle reflection and rest that helps your inner world reorganize.
—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
The dance world has often based its plaudits on how spectacularly performers can defy gravity with leaps, kicks and twirls.
—
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
In other words, Uranus moves around our star like a spinning top that is tilted over and that twirls backward.
—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
At a picnic fundraiser in Orlando, his wife Iryna grabs his arms and wildly twirls around his wheelchair, savoring life.
—
Carol Guzy,
NPR,
22 Feb. 2026
The swishy Zesica Sleeveless Maxi Dress checks all my boxes, as the asymmetrical top is designed to sit lower on one side, and slightly flares out into a flowy pleated skirt that twirls nicely and allows for a full range of movement.
—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
To be frank, Jarrett’s rush pattern may have short-circuited the Next Gen Stats GPS system with more twists, twirls and figure-eights than an Olympic figure skating routine.
—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Centennial Lakes Park in suburban Edina is the perfect urban oasis to try out twirls or pick up some speed.
—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Midwest Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
16 June 2026
The Manchester City taliswoman then twirls her arm before knee sliding in front of the travelling fans.
—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Elmer Rodríguez twirls a against his former team while representing Puerto Rico.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Shauna Martel, a teaching assistant at the Osher Map Library twirls a massive globe around and points to Australia.
—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
Makar tested out his skating with some twirls at the end of the first and returned for the second.
—
ABC News,
4 May 2026
The unconscious Moon twirls into your 12th House of Whispers, inviting gentle reflection and rest that helps your inner world reorganize.
—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
The dance world has often based its plaudits on how spectacularly performers can defy gravity with leaps, kicks and twirls.
—
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
In other words, Uranus moves around our star like a spinning top that is tilted over and that twirls backward.
—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
At a picnic fundraiser in Orlando, his wife Iryna grabs his arms and wildly twirls around his wheelchair, savoring life.
—
Carol Guzy,
NPR,
22 Feb. 2026
The swishy Zesica Sleeveless Maxi Dress checks all my boxes, as the asymmetrical top is designed to sit lower on one side, and slightly flares out into a flowy pleated skirt that twirls nicely and allows for a full range of movement.
—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
To be frank, Jarrett’s rush pattern may have short-circuited the Next Gen Stats GPS system with more twists, twirls and figure-eights than an Olympic figure skating routine.
—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Centennial Lakes Park in suburban Edina is the perfect urban oasis to try out twirls or pick up some speed.
—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Midwest Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
With smoke streaming from his mouth and nose, McTominay twirls the delighted older man around.
—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
16 June 2026
The Manchester City taliswoman then twirls her arm before knee sliding in front of the travelling fans.
—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Elmer Rodríguez twirls a against his former team while representing Puerto Rico.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Shauna Martel, a teaching assistant at the Osher Map Library twirls a massive globe around and points to Australia.
—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twirls
Noun
-
Some plans also help cover routine maintenance, like oil changes and tire rotations.
-
Steven Boyd, a union steward for SEIU Local 1000, said that agencies are relying on exemptions, delays, rotations and workarounds to make the mandate appear functional.
Verb
-
The ride currently holds the record for the largest zero-G stall in America — an inversion that takes riders uphill, rotates them 180 degrees upside down, and hovers above ground for a weightless airtime moment before returning upright.
-
At Taste Buds Kitchen, the 5-day summer camp runs 3 hours each morning and rotates through recipes including brownies, pies, pasta and garlic knots.
Verb
-
But the movie revolves, of course, around the guys planning and executing their labyrinthine heist.
-
That happens simply because Earth revolves, but the planets also move across the sky, further complicating things.
Noun
-
Despite all the different spins and flavors, this classic Ranch water will never ever disappoint.
-
These devices use quantum systems, such as atoms or electron spins, as highly sensitive probes.
Verb
-
As America turns 250, the semiquincentennial feels like a dud — a far cry from 1976’s bicentennial blowout, when pop culture and communal celebrations united a weary nation.
-
The heat domes tend to form where the jet stream turns northward, moving up and over the dome itself and leading to strong flows of hot air from the south to the north near the Earth’s surface.
Noun
-
To turn the rudder, six cadets must man three massive wheels made of wood and copper.
-
Apollo 3 will offer both bipedal and wheeled configurations, with wheels providing efficiency and regulatory compliance for initial industrial deployments, while bipedal versions target broader applications.
Verb
-
But the blueness of these districts does mean that the socialists will get elected and likely survive when the pendulum swings back to the Republicans.
-
The map introduces the armored Oni, which swings a spiked kanabō, plus Scorched Zombies and fiery Hellhounds tied to its lava-field hazards.
Noun
-
Still, Dennis’ shot made goalies find or rediscover religion, especially during the early days of unregulated stick curves.
-
The original Östereichring was a spectacular thing, with steep gradients, long straights, and high-speed curves, surrounded by views of the Styrian mountains.
Cite this Entry
“Twirls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twirls. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
