variants
also whirr
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
a whir coming from the refrigerator
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of whir
Tom Williams, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
The space is quiet, except for the crack of a Perrier being opened or the whir of an espresso machine.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 27 May 2025
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 13 May 2025
Almost from the moment movie cameras first started whirring in China, filmmakers have flocked to Shanghai.
—Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
The two men are alone on the trail, the only sounds the runner’s breathing, the pounding of his feet on the path, the whir of the bike’s wheels and occasional snatches of birdsong.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
The space is quiet, except for the crack of a Perrier being opened or the whir of an espresso machine.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 27 May 2025
Verb
Little is known about the mysterious origins of the spinning, whirring celestial cypher.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 13 May 2025
Almost from the moment movie cameras first started whirring in China, filmmakers have flocked to Shanghai.
—Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Verb
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Listen: That song your kids are humming (or belting out)?—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
29 July 2025
-
The place where my embarrassment typically sat in my body was replaced with a quiet humming feeling, a relief, a full-body homecoming.—
Natalie Guerrero
July 28,
Literary Hub,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Liam sounds ferociously on-form, his nasal snarl infused with a malevolent purr.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
5 July 2025
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Similarly, another woman, navigating the recent passing of her own cat, found solace in the gentle purrs of potential new companions, encouraged by friends to embrace the healing presence a new feline could offer.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Given the sequel’s summer publicity rounds — Sandler mentioned McDonough’s name on the Kelce brothers’ podcast, for one — the whispers around the real-life Happy Gilmore might start earlier than normal when school begins on Sept. 5.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
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There was—according to the whispers—effectively a button the U.S. could press to control the aircraft bought and operated by recipient countries.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Mascherano suggested that Messi might not have been suspended were the next game an away from home, because MLS teams across the league have used Messi’s presence to sell additional tickets (at higher prices) and to create a buzz around these games featuring the Argentine star.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
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This one-bedroom is a 10-minute walk from the buzz of downtown without feeling out of touch—there are plenty of restaurants, bars, plus the iconic hot dog stand all within quick reach.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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