coiled 1 of 2

adjective

as in coiling

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coiled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of coil
as in curled
to follow a circular or spiral course a vine coiling around a pillar

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 coiled
Verb
Beach waves run the gamut from tight and coiled to long and easy, all depending on your hair type. — Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 4 July 2026 Cottonmouths can be spotted swimming in the water, coiled on the bank, or in vegetation along the shore. — Jack Armstrong, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 3 June 2026 Their hair was held back in a low bun and coiled in exactly the same way, and their blue eyes were darkly lined, that intensity counteracted with their matching rosy lip look. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 23 May 2026 Probably the most stylish climber in the professional peloton, flowing and coiled, Del Toro stunned in last year’s Giro. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026 But when classes resumed this week for the first time since the Iran war began, coiled barbed wire blocked the Palestinian siblings’ path to the village center. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026 These coiled, shelled relatives of squid and octopuses were abundant predators, hunting in the same waters as fish, turtles, sharks and extinct marine reptiles called plesiosaurs. — Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026 Unlike straighter hair types, afro hair often has a curved or coiled structure not only above the scalp but also beneath the skin, which means every stage of the procedure must be planned with exceptional care and technical precision. — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 20 May 2026 Even if viewers didn’t know what direction Russia eventually took under Putin, however, the character’s powerful but coiled demeanor quickly makes apparent that such credulity has consequences. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coiled
  1. spiral
  2. curled
  3. spiraling
  4. curved
  5. swirling
  6. looping
Adjective
  • Our planet sits along one of the galaxy’s spiral arms, about halfway from the center, according to NASA.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Things rapidly spiral out of control for the quartet as a waking nightmare, filled with ghostly figures and sudden disappearances, unfolds.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of spiral
Verb
  • After long periods in their own half to start the match, Norway broke the deadlock with a strike from Antonio Nusa that curled into the far corner.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • That translated to a trail of smoke curled around notes of salt, neroli, ginger lily, and citrus.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Definition of curled
Adjective
  • The basic idea is that when anxiety spikes, pulling out a few sensory-engaging items can stave off panic by interrupting spiraling thoughts.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Still annoyed, weirdly offended, and slightly spiraling.
    — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of spiraling
Verb
  • In the final minute of stoppage time to end the first half, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi curved his free kick right in front of the goal, seemingly just one perfect touch away from a goal.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
  • If spacetime is curved, then the path of light is also curved.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of curved
Adjective
  • However, the situation for gas giants is somewhat more complicated because of their swirling atmospheres.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 July 2026
  • Scrape banana cream mixture on top of cake and spread out until nearly to edges, swooping and swirling decoratively.
    — Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of swirling
Adjective
  • Australian singer-songwriter Tash Sultana presented an emotional and powerful mid-afternoon set with soaring guitar solos and vocals, live looping and musical dexterity that left the audience stunned in the best way possible.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
  • The main performance is scheduled to include aerial acrobatics, bondage, burlesque and drag performers from groups such as The Dragonettes, AKArts Collective and others with hypnotic live looping and vocal music from Morgan Sorne.
    — Anne Schrager, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of looping

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Cite this Entry

“Coiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coiled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on coiled

Nglish: Translation of coiled for Spanish Speakers

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