Thesaurus results for SWIRL

swirl 1 of 2

verb

ˈswər(-ə)l

Definition of swirl

as in to stir

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

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as in to turn

to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis swirled her skirts as she danced the tango

Synonyms & Similar Words

swirl

2 of 2

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 swirl

Verb

Despite the extensive commentary swirling around the burros, surprisingly little is known about the herd itself. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Speculation about what would become of CNN swirled following the news of the media megamerger, which puts WBD’s CNN and Paramount’s CBS News under the same roof. — Emma Roth, The Verge, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

Merger-watchers took note that Bloys and Perrette were prominent in the social swirl around the Emmy Awards this past week. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026 But a swirl of chaos, sweat, and tears goes into producing a runway collection, and even the most sanguine of designers can crack under the pressure. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swirl

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirl

Verb

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
To English leftist folkies, lately stirred by Bertrand Russell and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the lyric, coming from Dylan, would cut through the anti-Americanism not uncommon in their midst.

— Sean Wilentz, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of stir

Verb

The service The service here is a nod to the turn-of-the-last-century where waiters and barmen wear starched white dinner jackets and a pianist serenades your cocktails in a grand salon.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Hidden Planet is the latest in the canon, this time turning the micro-cameras on the world of insects.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of turn

Noun

Democratic divide As Republican donors open their wallets, some of Democrats’ biggest benefactors are missing from the DNC’s donor rolls.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Other key elements include roll-in showers with grab bars and handheld shower wands; raised toilet seats with grab bars; lowered light switches, thermostats, and mirrors; and wheelchair-accessible bathroom sinks.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of roll

Verb

Earlier this year, Jo Malone London transformed Center Stage, the rotating pop-up space on the main floor of Nordstrom’s New York flagship, into an immersive vegetable garden in celebration of its Brit Veggies Collection, for example.

— Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Capitol Corner Bar plans to offer rotating seasonal cocktails, too.

— Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of rotate

Noun

Officers are sent to this remote station on rotations of two or three months, with fresh water and food delivered weekly by trucks that make a five-hour journey across dusty desert roads.

— Nathan Jaccard, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
While Rubin’s most recent looks have been crafted by makeup artist Shayna Gold, whose A-list client rotation also includes Jennifer Lawrence and Grace Gummer, she has not been named as the visionary behind this one.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of rotation

Verb

In the book, Lucy and Mina, the two main female characters caught up in the web of horror spun by the terrifying Transylvanian count Dracula, stand out as strong, intelligent and courageous.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Then came the surprising part The team used muon spin relaxation to look for extremely weak magnetic fields inside the material.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of spin

Noun

In Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, smaller eddies and vortices near the perimeter feed the giant maelstrom in the center.

— Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
The drive traverses the Bear River Mountains (a northern branch of the Wasatch), passing aspen groves, limestone cliffs, and the whitewater eddies of the Logan River along the way.

— Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of eddy

Verb

Schlittler sent his hometown Red Sox packing last October, striking out 12 while twirling eight scoreless innings in Game 3 of the 2025 Wild Card Series.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Sep. 2026
Ornate crystal fixtures illuminated the grand ballroom as dancers in Prohibition-era attire twirled to the music.

— Michelle Polizzi, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of twirl

Browse Nearby Words

swiping

swirl

swirled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Swirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swirl. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of swirl

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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