curls 1 of 2

noun

plural of curl
as in ringlets
a length of hair that forms a loop or series of loops let her hair grow in its natural curls

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

curls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of curl
as in coils
to follow a circular or spiral course an inviting path for joggers curls around the reservoir

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 curls
Noun
Commerce production assistant Hailey Roy, who has 3C curls, actually skips a hot tool altogether. — Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026 In one shot of Kidman leaning against the railing of a boat, her curls took center stage, and in another photo, the Lioness actress posed in a blue bikini in a hot tub, her hair tied up in a top knot. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026 Shake it out, separate some of the curls and let a little frizz happen. — Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026 As with all the award-winning brand’s products, this trio is thoughtfully designed for curls, coils and tight textures. — Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 Exercises like wall sits, leg raises, and hamstring curls can help improve strength, balance, and stability. — Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, HEALTH, 13 Aug. 2026 Gramby asks her little girl, who has dark curls and a big smile. — Kristin Wright, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 Second-Day Hair Is Underrated While many people might use velcro rollers when blow-drying hair for a bouncy blowout look, second-day hair actually holds better when styling for volume and curls. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2026 The team identified 47 of these vortex-bearing interfaces in the telescope’s field of view and measured the spacing between adjacent curls. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curls
  1. ringlets
  2. coils
  3. waves
  4. winds
  5. locks
  6. curves
Noun
  • As families poured into a converted West Side warehouse Saturday afternoon, Jacob Williams watched small ringlets of his hair tumble to the floor.
    — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Layer thick, curly hair to enhance natural volume and add definition to your ringlets.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
Definition of ringlets
Verb
  • Refrigerator Coils The condenser coils responsible for keeping your appliance functioning become covered in dust over time.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 27 July 2026
  • Dry all surfaces completely and replace knobs, drip pans, and coils back on the stove.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 July 2026
Definition of coils
Noun
  • Falling asleep to the ocean breeze and crashing waves encapsulates the essence of Essaouira, a city long favored by a bohemian crowd.
    — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Luke was towed into these large waves by his brother, who also acted as his safety partner, which is essential in these conditions.
    — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of waves
Verb
  • From there, the track winds through downtown, with drivers navigating turns on 9th Street, Constitution Avenue, 7th Street and Independence Avenue before making the final turn back toward the Capitol and the start-finish line.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Park officials told Fox News Digital that the incident happened the afternoon of July 11, at Rimrocks along Going-to-the-Sun Road, a popular 50-mile scenic highway that winds through the mountainous park.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of winds
Noun
  • The former beauty queen with her blond Rapunzel locks was onstage wearing a bronze satin blouse and flowing white trousers.
    — Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The school currently has donated helmets and locks available for students who need them.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of locks
Verb
  • Uganda, a country that curves around Lake Victoria, took on a completely different shape.
    — Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
  • Tumon Bay, the island’s main resort district, curves in a sweep of gorgeous waters backed by limestone cliffs and a skyline of hotels that reflect Guam’s long‑standing popularity with Japanese and Korean travelers.
    — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
Definition of curves

Browse Nearby Words

curling up
curls
curls up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curls. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tilde

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All