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

And the whir of the midterms wasn’t far away. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 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

Verb

Angela George The voting machines are whirring at a clip, which in turn makes the pace of the afternoon feel fast. — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 8 July 2026 But something about the collective excitement of a reunion struck a chord, and the machine started whirring. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for whir

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir

Noun

Indeed, the team behind this research believes this hum of spacetime ripples could help explain how supermassive black holes grew so rapidly before the universe was even a billion years old.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The noise in Granbury, Texas, that started as a hum in the summer of 2023 had by January begun to disturb her at all hours.

— Tavleen Tarrant, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of hum

Verb

Summary Tonight, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is buzzing for the WBA welterweight title clash between Rolly Romero and Teofimo Lopez.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Smith’s chemistry with Mitchell has been buzzing since the spring, but his connection with the Jets’ top receiver has been building all summer.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of buzz

Noun

Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
In the mid-1970s, Slash’s mother, the costume designer Ola Hudson, worked on the American production of The Rocky Horror Show, whose Frank-N-Furter is the unmistakable touchstone of Bourzgui’s David, down to the depraved purr.

— Sarah Grant, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of purr

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whip (up)

whir

whirl

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Style

“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of whir

noun

verb

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