pinwheel

verb

Definition of pinwheelnext
as in to rotate
to move in circles around an axis or center the kayaker had got sucked into the whirlpool, and his kayak was pinwheeling helplessly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 pinwheel Forecasters warned of the arrival Thursday into Friday of a second intensifying low pressure area, which will pinwheel around the first bomb cyclone in an atmospheric interaction known as the Fujiwara Effect. — Andrew Freedman, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024 Some of the outer rain bands and a few storms from Beta will pinwheel into the area from the east and southeast. — Dallas News, 20 Sep. 2020 The man in the white vest pinwheeled his arms, ushering volunteers through the pick-up line outside the Salvation Army Community Center on Fourth Street with military precision. — Lizzie Johnson, SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019 According to the space agency, IC 2051 is a spiral galaxy, noticeable in its whirling, pinwheeling arms and a bar of stars cutting through its center. — Fox News, 23 Dec. 2019 See All Example Sentences for pinwheel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinwheel
  1. rotate
  2. revolve
  3. spin
  4. twirl
Verb
  • For about five days, the murres rotate between the drying pens — which blow warm air on the birds — and 80-degree pools of water inside the clinic.
    — Stephanie Zappelli, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Glenn rotates pass rushers, and nine different Jets have a sack, as New York is tied for fifth with 17 sacks as a team.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of rotate
Verb
  • Valentine and McClain split just before the LP dropped, setting off decades of revolving lineups centered around Iris and stalwart keyboardist Avsec.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But if that entire situation revolves on a supply chain that is based on one country, then that is clearly not a healthy situation.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of revolve
Verb
  • Once the researchers accounted for this requirement, the window for a split narrowed considerably, potentially remaining open only for black holes spinning close to their maximum possible rate.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Christopher Bell, who entered just five points behind Larson, crashed after spinning while entering the pits under green for his first pit stop on Lap 56.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • The woman said Dominguez put his arms around her and picked her up to twirl her when no one else was around, the newspaper reported.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Charli was the smiling face of a platform that amplified those pressures, twerking and twirling like the girl in The Red Shoes who couldn’t stop dancing.
    — Nancy Jo Sales, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of twirl

Browse Nearby Words

pinup girls
pinwheel
pinwheeled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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