Synonyms of swirling

swirling 1 of 2

adjective

as in spiraling

Related Words

• spiraling
• circling
• spiral
• coiled
• coiling
• looping
• zigzag
• twisting
• indirect
• twisted
• corkscrew
• zigzagging
• winding
• serpentine
• curved
• sinuous
• curving
• tortuous
• roundabout
• bending
• circuitous
• curled
• curling
• wandering
• curvy
• crooked
• jagged
• windy
• devious
• crazy
• rambling
• meandering
• uneven
• irregular

Dissimilar Words

• straight
• direct
• linear
• straightaway

swirling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of swirl

1

as in stirring

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

• stirring
• churning
• washing
• whirling
• shaking
• agitating
• whisking
• whipping
• reeling
• beating
• paddling
• wheeling

2

as in rotating

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

• rotating
• twirling
• spinning
• twisting
• swinging
• turning
• whirling
• rolling
• revolving
• swiveling
• pivoting
• wheeling
• winding
• screwing
• reeling
• circulating
• cranking
• unscrewing
• coiling
• twiddling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of swirling

Adjective

An early tour of his estate, provided by the swirling camerawork of Emmanuel Lubezki, reveals a catalogue of crimes against the animal kingdom, with antlers and furs festooning every surface. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Another highlight is the custom leather ceiling in the owner’s suite, which showcases a swirling pattern like a lollipop’s. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026

Set a timer for two to five minutes and write freely, with no structure or polish required, to give swirling thoughts somewhere to land. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

With bright colors and bold, swirling lines, his vivid imagery captured the era’s infectious optimism. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

The process also keeps the sand in a perpetual swirling motion that contrasts beautifully with the still surface. — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026

These monstrous masses are themselves dark, but their formidable gravity violently vacuums up gas and other nearby matter, generating rings of hot, swirling detritus that completely outshine the stars around them. — Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026

One thing to keep in mind with all the swirling headlines is that the AI buildout has been supply constrained. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Irresistible lure In a swirling age of coast-to-coast railroad mergers, the freight tracks that run through Barrington are suddenly one of the hottest stretches of track in North America. — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Verb

Inside the prayer hall, the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet unfurls with swirling floral patterns, and chandeliers echo date palms and blossoms. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026

Despite the extensive commentary swirling around the burros, surprisingly little is known about the herd itself. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

The song runs along a bouncing track with airy melodies swirling throughout each verse. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

Some of the debris swirling in the rotating disk is a remnant from planetary formation. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

And one guest, inexplicably, walked around with his own bottle of a 2014 Cabernet, swirling it to the sounds of DJ duo Sofi Tukker. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026

The vote is being closely watched by investors across the globe, with questions swirling around whether the incoming administration can deliver fiscal credibility. — Chloe Taylor,thomas Da Graca Barlow, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Of the five moves, the one that immediately addresses the injury concerns swirling around the Panthers’ program is the addition of Simpkins. — Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026

There’s a lot of commotion swirling around you, and much of the drama may not even involve you directly. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026