SWIRLING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

swirling 1 of 2

adjective

as in spiraling

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Dissimilar Words

swirling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of swirl

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

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

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 swirling

Adjective

Turn the volume up and that pinhole dilates, revealing swirling galaxies of vocal harmonies, upright bass plucks, and cascading piano runs. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026 The heaviness comes from the fact that the artist died in April, at age forty-six, but it’s also embedded in the paintings on view—in the bursts of fire and swirling floods that mark them. — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 But most visitors were gathered around one explosively colorful painting in swirling shades of light and dark blue, bottle green, and pale gold. — Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026 Even when key characters were finally introduced, their conversations occurred amid the swirling chaos of precinct life. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Executed in a mixture of shoe polish and alcohol, the mural features the swirling, graphic forms and figures that would soon become hallmarks of his work. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The sun has come up to reveal Hurricane Isaias and its swirling clouds above the Gulf’s record-warm water. — Kate S. Petersen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 Get ahead of the trend cycle with a swirling cake stand from Fazeek, or add heritage icons, like Bordallo Pinheiro’s cabbage-ware, to your tabletop. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 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

Verb

A lot is swirling leaguewide, and Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly. — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 Rumors are also swirling around about the later iPhones’ Dynamic Island camera housing coming to these MacBook Pro models. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026 Indeed, rumors had been swirling around the Colorado town that the secret slot would be given to Frank Ocean’s directorial debut Philly. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026 His departure just days before the midterms adds to the questions swirling around MAHA’s salience to the electorate. — Anil Oza, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026 Rumors began swirling about a change of scenery for Pooh after The Washington Post reported last week about a push to bring the teddy bear back home as the famed character turns 100 this year. — ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026 The Twilight Saga Classic Clog also features Jacob and Edward’s faces on the outer edge of each heel cup, and The Twilight Saga Platform Clog has a swirling decorative flourish on the backstrap. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 As for the suites, the highlight is their private terraces, peaceful havens from which to admire, paradoxically, the urban whirlwind swirling below. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026 With SpaceX hitting the public market in June, speculation about a more permanet tie-up has been swirling. — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swirling

Adjective

Libfeld brought a massive, spiraling kudu horn to practice with at a recent Torat Emet shofar class.

— Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Aside from a spiraling Wanda, there was also an onslaught of high-profile cameos, which almost felt like fandom wish fulfillment designed to keep us entertained when Wanda wasn’t around.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of spiraling

Verb

Add 1 cup orzo and cook, stirring often, until golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

— Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
Andrew Durand, with his handsome crab-apple features, makes a perfectly quizzical Benjamin; Kelsee Kimmel is stirring as his true love, who shares his age just once.

— Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of stirring

Verb

To deliver for employees, fill that chair with a real employee, rotating regularly, with a mandate to gather input from their peers before and after every session.

— Deborah Lovich, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
Moving forward is one thing, but moving up and down, changing direction, and rotating in place is a whole different challenge.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of rotating

Adjective

The continuously rising spiral roof integrates diverse functions such as dining spaces, exhibition spaces, education centers, and the theater into a cohesive whole.

— Wendy Wang, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
People whose lives spiral when social media enters the picture might need to abstain, although doctors are finding that for behavioral addictions abstinence might not be feasible (screens are everywhere).

— Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of spiral

Verb

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
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

Definition of twirling

Adjective

BepiColombo launched in October 2018 and took a long, looping and highly circuitous route toward Mercury our solar system's innermost planet.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2026
The 35-year-old missed with a looping, 72-mph curveball on the first pitch in their third matchup.

— Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of looping

Verb

Pepsi's relationship with Taco Bell and KFC parent Yum Brands spans decades, back to when the beverage giant owned the restaurant chains before spinning them into a separate public company in 1997.

— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
The company uses a proprietary two-step process that first removes gums and other noncellulosic components from raw hemp fiber, then refines the material for spinning on equipment already used to process cotton and synthetic fibers.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of spinning

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swirled

swirling

swirls

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Style

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

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Synonyms of swirling

adjective

verb

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