PURLS Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

purls

verb

present tense third-person singular of purl

as in swirls

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for purls

Verb

Max Martin, Grande sings of blowing through breakups and make-ups and enduring mounting exhaustion with mass notoriety while the music swirls patiently and frequently angrily underneath.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
The galaxy's heart shines brightly in the image, with gleaming rays of light radiating from its center while gas and dust swirls around.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 19 May 2026

Definition of swirls

Verb

One of the more surreal responses to that experience is applause, which ripples through the audience of Paranormal Activity a beat after all the major scares, like rain settling in after a peal of thunder.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
David Powell, Ethara’s chief portfolio and strategy officer, tells Fortune the race is Abu Dhabi’s version of the Super Bowl, a single weekend that ripples through the economy by driving tourism, hospitality spend and temporary employment.

— Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripples

Verb

But the gas that’s released in larger quantities is methane, which forms underwater as plants and algae break down and then bubbles to the surface.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Bubble sheet masks are made up of thin pieces of fabric that are saturated with a solution, which bubbles up as the mask sits on the skin.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of bubbles

Verb

When Grealish dribbles past right-back Mats Wieffer, Everton’s centre-forward moves inside, grabbing De Cuyper’s attention, which is enough for Ndiaye to attack the back post and score from his team-mate’s cross.

— Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Fourteen-year-old Karam dribbles a blue, yellow and white football down a sandy path in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.

— Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of dribbles

Verb

Across the street, the Llano River splashes its way over limestone formations and into reed thickets.

— Pam LeBlanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
Harry Kane splashes his face with ice water during a hydration break for a FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match on July 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

— Laura Schifter, Time, 17 July 2026

Definition of splashes

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.

Browse Nearby Words

purloins

purls

purple

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Purls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purls. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of purls

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes