EDDY Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

eddy 1 of 2

noun

Definition of eddy

as in swirl

a circular movement of air or water The boat was caught in a powerful eddy.

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eddy

2 of 2

verb

as in to swirl

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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 eddy

Noun

Curved roof eaves meanwhile prevent eddies — swirling pockets of air — from producing more localized snow drifts. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 May 2026 Runs and eddies alternate with deep, brimming pools shaded by leafy trees. — Ted Janes, Outdoor Life, 21 May 2026

Verb

Spiders are also keen observers of the forest’s breath, barely perceptible air currents eddying through the trees, and place their webs strategically to intercept these drafts — and the insects that use them to boost their transit through the woods. — Rick Borchelt, Baltimore Sun, 11 Nov. 2024 The crowd eddied, some with batons dancing concentrically around the wheel of fire, others collecting around two young men in white. — Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for eddy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eddy

Noun

All of this has led to a swirl of negativity around the Party—even as Democrats are positioned to perform well in the midterms this fall.

— Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
What is the dress swirl that’ll swirl us into the other ball?

— Hunter Ingram, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of swirl

Verb

Something extraordinary these episodes illustrate, in our view, is the vulnerability of America’s highly interconnected fresh-food supply chain, in which one grower or supplier problem can ripple astonishingly fast.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
That remains enough concentration for export restrictions to ripple through automotive, energy and defense industries.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripple

Noun

This chronic consumerism has been linked to a spiral which can lead to a disconnect between spiritual and material success.

— Mimosa Jones Tunney, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Grand plans to return to the Premier League under Chansiri around a decade ago had come to nothing, and financial mismanagement soon began a spiral that threatened the club’s existence.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of spiral

Verb

Tokar said that figure represents money spent at places such as hotels, rental car counters and restaurants — essentially spending that trickles down beyond the airport’s boundaries.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026
In this case, a global oil shock has pushed up energy prices which in turn has trickled into other costs, such as groceries.

— Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of trickle

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eddies

eddy

eddying

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Style

“Eddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eddy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of eddy

noun

verb

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