reeling 1 of 2

adjective

as in giddy
having a feeling of being whirled about and in danger of falling down the blood donor experienced a reeling sensation after standing up too quickly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reeling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of reel
1
as in spinning
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around his mind reeled upon hearing the news that his employer had been indicted for fraud

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in staggering
to move forward while swaying from side to side got off the amusement park ride reeling and barely able to stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 reeling
Adjective
Even if Lee were sober and thinking straight, her alluring, blows-hot-and-cold Betty Jo would be impossible for a guy like Lee — reckless, reeling, distractible — to resist. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Daemon’s been pressing Rhaenyra to be more aggressive, and now, reeling from grief, she’s poised to act. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026 Getty Images The Cleveland Guardians are reeling from injuries to three of their best offensive players. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 At the end of the game, Hilton exited the stadium with the toddlers at her side, clearly still reeling from the exhilarating game-day experience. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 27 June 2026 Even before the recent wildfires ignited, Utah cattle ranchers were reeling from a record drought that has hit the state, drying out thousands of acres of grazing land, officials said. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 30 June 2026 Democrats are reeling from upsets in Colorado’s primary Tuesday night as an anti-establishment wave buried a pair of party veterans. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 1 July 2026 It's also become common for Musk to make Starlink service available for free in areas where people are reeling from natural disasters and other threats. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 June 2026 Much of the credit for the team’s resurgence has gone to coach Mauricio Pochettino, who inherited a program reeling from its disappointing first-round exit at the 2024 Copa América. — Luisa Yanez july 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 Derek Hill robbed Juan Soto of a two-run homer with a spectacular catch that helped Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the reeling New York Mets 2-1 on Friday night. — CBS News, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reeling
  1. giddy
  2. spinning
  3. staggering
  4. dizzy
  5. lurching
  6. whirling
  7. weaving
Adjective
  • Ureña, a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as another potential ace, speaks of Soriano with a giddy amusement mixed with a solemn respect for how the starter has survived in the big leagues.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • For now, the stock market and the credit market are telling slightly different stories about the same companies, one giddy and one wary.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of giddy
Verb
  • Overcome Didier Deschamps’ side on July 9 – a tall order at the moment given how good Les Bleus look – and heads will be spinning at the possibilities that could await.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • But his head was spinning after a day of trying to prepare for F1 and F2 cars.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of spinning
Verb
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hands and small heads.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hand and small heads.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Definition of staggering
Adjective
  • People with heat exhaustion typically feel dizzy, start sweating profusely, have a fast pulse and can feel sick.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 2 July 2026
  • The 77-year-old American Idol judge complained about feeling dizzy during the opening night of the Sing a Song All Night Long Tour featuring Earth, Wind & Fire.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 June 2026
Definition of dizzy
Verb
  • The same boom-and-bust dependency on the oil industry, whose profits were now funnelled through the regime and its allies, kept the country lurching from one crisis to the next.
    — Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
  • The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
    — Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 25 June 2026
Definition of lurching
Adjective
  • The magnetar was initially surrounded by a whirling disk of matter, funneling from its inner edge onto the stellar remnant.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of whirling
Verb
  • Following the mini concert, attendees dispersed across the property, gathering around a massive outdoor fireplace and weaving through the home’s stylish interiors.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • Some riders gallivant and whoosh past bystanders, weaving in and out and putting surrounding passersby on edge.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of weaving

Browse Nearby Words

reeled off
reeling
reeling off
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Cite this Entry

“Reeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reeling. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reeling

Nglish: Translation of reeling for Spanish Speakers

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