WHIR Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

whir 1 of 2

noun

variants also whirr

Definition of whir

as in hum

a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion a whir coming from the refrigerator

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whir

2 of 2

verb

ˈ(h)wər

variants also whirr

as in to hum

to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the hummingbird whirred as it hovered over a flower our tires whirred as we traveled over the rough road

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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 whir

Noun

Eastern Ukraine — There is a whirr, a flurry of dust, a pause as the grainy image recalibrates, and then a devastating blast. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026 On the Iron Horse Regional Trail traversing Contra Costa and Alameda counties, the whir of electric bikes has become part of the summer soundtrack. — Maddie White, CBS News, 26 May 2026

Verb

Clanging cable cars still climb up and down the streets, although these days they’re joined by self-driving taxis, an ever-present reminder of the whirring tech scene. — Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026 From branches above her is released a sudden shower of ash keys, which flutter downwards, whirring in circles, until their wild flight is put to a stop by meeting the water’s surface, where they are apprehended and whisked away downstream. — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for whir

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir

Noun

Usually, the town’s namesake island, far down in downstate Illinois, is quiet enough to hear the hum of the barges droning along the Mississippi River.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
The background hum comes from X-ray emissions detected by Chandra.

— Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 4 July 2026

Definition of hum

Noun

Wafting odors of 100-octane gasoline and rumbling purrs of V8 engines punched through the overcast morning at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday as the Velocity Invitational car meet entered its second day.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2026
That detail has led researchers to wonder whether the purr is partly a self-healing mechanism, a body soothing itself from the inside out.

— Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026

Definition of purr

Browse Nearby Words

whip (up)

whir

whirl

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Style

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

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Synonyms of whir

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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