REELS Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

reels 1 of 2

noun

plural of reel

as in wheels

a rapid turning about on an axis or central point she slipped and, after an out-of-control reel, fell on her backside

Synonyms & Similar Words

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reels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of reel

as in spins

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in staggers

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 reels

Noun

Ten straight hours of baking are edited into 90-second reels of prep work on Roll & Dough’s social pages, which Pierre, who is soft-spoken yet brutally honest, overlays with confessional voiceovers. — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 Fifteen-year-old highlight reels showing baggy shorts, jaw-dropping athleticism and a crossover that nearly shook defenders out of their shoes popped up on social media again. — Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 To catch sharks, some anglers paddle out to deeper waters, drop the bait and then pull in the sharks from reels on the beach. — Tom Hanson, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Diez frames the going-public transition as a chance to set a bar in a field awash with nine- and ten-figure valuations built largely on demo reels. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Modi started to make reels to appeal to the young protesters. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 Rods with substantial backbone and reels spooled with strong line and even stronger leaders are essential. — Ken Perrotte, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 The chant, which deployed Modi’s first name, quickly spawned the kind of meme-like variations typical of viral reels. — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026 The BookTok community quickly honed in on Iacono for the role of Liz’s neighbor Wes Bennett, creating reels of the dream casting before the adaptation was announced. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 July 2026

Verb

In other words, OpenAI needs a competent team of AI ethicists now than ever before as the industry reels from the possibility of frontier AI models going rogue, in what many experts say is a cybersecurity nightmare in the making. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 12 Aug. 2026 More than 30 civilians have been killed in American strikes on Iran in recent days, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said today, as the country reels from yet another night of bombardment. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 As Venezuela reels from twin quakes that killed more than 2,295 people, acting leader Delcy Rodríguez mounts her first defense of the response. — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 This wrenches the chromosomes apart into two sets and reels them to opposite ends of the cytoplasm sea. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026 After Saturday night’s shooting that left two dead, neighbors are voicing their frustrations — and fears — as the community reels from another shooting that has left two more teenagers dead. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2026 There’s a lot to digest as the hockey world reels from the stunning Dylan Larkin news that came out Thursday, his trade request putting the Detroit Red Wings in an unenviable spot. — Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 5 June 2026 As America reels from 9/11, something resonates within Franny and an unexpected tenderness begins to bloom. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 May 2026 As Hawaii reels from some of the worst flooding to hit the region in decades, one good Samaritan is taking to the waterways to paddle pets left behind to safety. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reels

Noun

Amsterdam is crowded, and cars, trams, bikers, and pedestrians seem to float by from all directions in silence … lost in the white noise of breezing through this dreamy city on two wheels.

— Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
In the library/innovation center, the furniture like whiteboard tables, benches, booths, ottomans and shelves are on wheels, easily moved to change the layout and open up the space for events, assemblies or performances.

— Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of wheels

Verb

Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
Like many Florida school districts, OCPS staggers start times to most efficiently use its school buses and drivers.

— Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

Definition of staggers

Noun

Staying up to date on your car’s regular maintenance, such as oil changes, brake checks and tire rotations, can have a positive impact on its selling price.

— Cody Godwin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Spinal rotations When sitting for over an hour, our spine can become impacted as pressure builds on the discs in our lumbar spine.

— Sophia Dyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of rotations

Verb

The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 June 2026
By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2026

Definition of lurches

Noun

The family member had retrieved Molano’s vehicle and found the five large crates of cinnamon rolls inside.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Erewhon stores have become tourist destinations, with people posting videos on social media of themselves visiting and trying foods such as raw vegan cinnamon rolls and buffalo cauliflower.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of rolls

Verb

The documentary around that single day and single game also weaves into the account of Curry’s on-court artistry the thoughts of other innovative artists like Viola Davis, Rick Rubin, Patti Smith, and Jon Batiste.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
The boyfriend, a British DJ named James Kennedy, who had been playing a clunky set in the background, weaves over to the women, sweaty and frazzled.

— Sylvia Varnham O’Regan, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of weaves

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reel off

reels

reels off

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“Reels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reels. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of reels

noun

verb

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