SPINNING Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

spinning

verb

Definition of spinning

present participle of spin

as in rotating

to move in circles around an axis or center spinning on its axis, the Earth makes one complete rotation every 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in swimming

to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around my head spun as I contemplated all the possible problems this restructuring could cause

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in twirling

to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis spun the child around until he was hopelessly dizzy

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 spinning Conventional gas centrifuges use spinning mechanical rotors to push heavier atoms outward. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 And get ready for a scene that will hopefully not leave your head spinning the same way that the Earth spins on its axis. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026 Over the Fourth of July weekend, a series of storms skimmed the south of the city, pummeling Coney Island and the Rockaways with sand and sending beach umbrellas spinning like tops. — Matthew Schneier, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026 It’s equipped with a camera to see and a microphone to hear, as well as tiny LiDAR sensors (like the ones spinning atop driverless cars) to keep it from bumping into things. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 One is the behavior Mythos engaged in, which included spinning up fake GitHub accounts, and, in at least one case, impersonating a real software developer, to try to convince Demir to drop his objections to the dangerous code. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 The news was the latest in a head-spinning week of court rulings, emergency rulemaking sessions and player signings, all of which point to a college sports landscape in disarray. — Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Atlanta convention with lots of records for sale as well as memorabilia, ephemera and music from vinyl-spinning DJs. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Within a mind-spinning eight months, Zori Timeless Hotel was born, cleverly converted from the old pension into four luxurious residences within the confines of strict planning regulations that forced them to use the existing space. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spinning

Verb

Coffee heads and tea aficionados will get their fill on the extensive, rotating offerings.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
In joining the program, Compagno will step down from her role on Outnumbered, a panel show which features four women and one male, and a rotating Fox News personality will fill the seat until a full-time co-host is named.

— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of rotating

Verb

Recently, a local fisherman captured a video of dolphins swimming in the Long Island Sound off the coast of Westbrook that was shared all over social media.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
Whether burrowing through soil or swimming through water, they’re forced to maneuver through narrow gaps in tiny pores, rocks, roots, plants or other obstacles.

— K. R. Prathyusha, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of swimming

Verb

The last time these two met in Tuscaloosa was in 2024, when the Tide won 41-34 on Ryan Coleman-Williams 75-yard, twirling touchdown catch-and-run.

— Justin Williams, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Einstein’s general theory of relativity dictates that a twirling black hole would bring spacetime along for the ride, warping it in a process known as the Lense-Thirring effect.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of twirling

Verb

Even in the face of all that pressure, the shows — which debuted the tour’s four revolving setlists — were wildly successful, with tributes to Peart helping one of rock’s most cerebral bands hit new heights of emotional impact.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2026
And with the average rate on credit card accounts that were charged interest recently topping 22%, falling behind on this type of revolving debt can become expensive quickly.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of revolving

Verb

Investigators say Santos was barred from trading on his own attendance but still placed large bets and issued misleading social media posts aimed at moving prices, turning a $17,839 profit.

— Larry Neumeister, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
For generations of American teenagers, turning 16 and getting a driver’s license has been a rite of passage—and a first taste of independence.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of turning

Verb

The system shudders a bit and then gets back to normal, like a person stubbing a toe or twisting an ankle faces discomfort and difficulty walking for a while.

— Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Beyond the town’s artistic offerings, Brown County State Park, Indiana’s largest and an easy day trip from Indianapolis, draws visitors with more than 90 miles of hiking and biking trails twisting through blazing forests.

— Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of twisting

Verb

Starting Friday, the strong wind shear that’s been swirling in the Atlantic all season and keeping most storms at bay is expected to pick up again, wearing away at Dolly.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Eyewitness footage recorded from the village of Verzeille captured a tornado forming and swirling beneath a violent supercell thunderstorm south of the southern French city of Carcassonne on August 24, 2026.

— CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of swirling

Browse Nearby Words

spinners

spinning

spin-off

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Style

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

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Synonyms of spinning

verb

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