twirled

verb

past tense of twirl
1
as in swung
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis absentmindedly twirled a lock of her hair around her finger

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in rotated
to move in circles around an axis or center an ice-skater twirling in place

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 twirled Humanoids marched, backflipped, and twirled nunchucks; robotic pandas gambolled. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Sitting in front of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs today, Anthony Fauci twirled his pen. — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026 In an Instagram video taken during a Magnolia Network shoot, the interior designer twirled through a grassy field wearing a billowy white blouse, ankle boots, and a flowy brown maxi skirt. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 Before putting on the new colorway from her Syrn Playful collection, Sweeney showed off the inside of her trailer and twirled in place, revealing the revealing back of her white matching thong. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 18 July 2026 Keith twirled the edges in his fingers and flipped the long part back and forth over his shoulder. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 19 June 2026 Dancers in tennis skirts twirled around with rackets while breaking to move plants and shovel dirt. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 18 June 2026 Elias Lindholm would be behind the play and lost, Lohrei and Jokiharju would be overwhelmed and Pasta would be twirled around a fork and devoured. — Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Andrew Johnson twirled another postseason gem. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for twirled
  1. swung
  2. rotated
  3. spun
  4. revolved
  5. turned
  6. whirled
  7. twisted
  8. swirled
Verb
  • The inning should have been over after Bo Bichette swung on a bouncing pitch that went back to the backstop, but Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz threw the ball past first base, and Bichette was safe.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But this game’s hinges swung the other way when the Padres turned things around against Gavin Williams and Michael King turned things around against the Guardians.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of swung
Verb
  • Those two rotated fluidly throughout, combined well and have developed a strong on-pitch connection.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Cameron Thomas, who played under Stefanski the past two years with the Browns, has also seen extensive snaps with the starters, while veteran Azeez Ojulari rotated in with the first-team defense Friday.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of rotated
Verb
  • Resin pellets were melted and extruded to created thin fibers, before they were spun together into the yarn.
    — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Just before midnight on Sunday night, another batch of storms spun up a damaging tornado hit about 50 miles southwest of Chicago in Ransom, Illinois.
    — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of spun
Verb
  • To its left, sausages revolved on chrome rollers; to its right, a human attendant in a brightly colored uniform looked patient and quizzical.
    — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Still, most gravitate toward the main pool, where the Delano's social scene has revolved for decades.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
Definition of revolved
Verb
  • The offer of a trial from Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson that eventually turned into a short-term contract until January 2025 proved the merits of all that hard work.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Crews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of turned
Verb
  • Throughout all this chaos, the Fleetwood Mac touring machine whirled on.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
  • The ram whirled, rushed down off his rocky pinnacle, and went by us.
    — Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 23 July 2026
Definition of whirled
Verb
  • In the classic entrepreneurial discussion, hope gets twisted a bit.
    — Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Quixotic aerialists twisted, turned and unfolded above the crowd, using flowing fabric and butterfly-inspired movements to mirror the creatures being celebrated.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of twisted
Verb
  • The waters swirled fast around the car, reaching over the license plate.
    — Albert Ramon, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Svelte white waitresses in generic Asian garb swirled around us.
    — Karan Mahajan, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of swirled

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twirled
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Cite this Entry

“Twirled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/twirled. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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