WHIR Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

whir 1 of 2

noun

variants also whirr

Definition of whir

as in hum

a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion a whir coming from the refrigerator

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whir

2 of 2

verb

ˈ(h)wər

variants also whirr

as in to hum

to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the hummingbird whirred as it hovered over a flower our tires whirred as we traveled over the rough road

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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 whir

Noun

And the whir of the midterms wasn’t far away. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 Eastern Ukraine — There is a whirr, a flurry of dust, a pause as the grainy image recalibrates, and then a devastating blast. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

Verb

Then whir that with ice in a blender. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 10 June 2026 The production design closely resembled that of his recent Rolling Loud set and his in-progress Don’t Be Dumb tour, including a helicopter hanging from the top of the stage (its whirring blades could be heard between songs). — Drew Cohen, SPIN, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for whir

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir

Noun

Syrian natives Karam and Noor have spent long days this summer sitting in the respite of their small New Haven apartment, listening to the gentle buzz of the air conditioner and the hum of Karam’s dialysis machine.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
Scattered on the dunes, the surviving population of Gaza was reduced to bare existence, subject to unrelenting hunger and thirst under the ever-present hum of killer drones and bomber jets.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of hum

Noun

Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026
But a growing body of research suggests some of the most therapeutic sounds on earth are already in your home — your cat’s purr, rain on the window, birdsong outside.

— Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026

Definition of purr

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whip (up)

whir

whirl

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Style

“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of whir

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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