as in to rotate
to move in circles around an axis or center
the kayaker had got sucked into the whirlpool, and his kayak was pinwheeling helplessly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pinwheel
Some of the outer rain bands and a few storms from Beta will pinwheel into the area from the east and southeast.
—
Dallas News, 20 Sep. 2020
Observations of pinwheeling galaxies suggested that scaffolds of invisible matter held their stars together, while a repulsive form of energy drove galaxies apart.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2020
The man in the white vest pinwheeled his arms, ushering volunteers through the pick-up line outside the Salvation Army Community Center on Fourth Street with military precision.
—Lizzie Johnson, SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019
According to the space agency, IC 2051 is a spiral galaxy, noticeable in its whirling, pinwheeling arms and a bar of stars cutting through its center.
—Fox News, 23 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pinwheel
Dallas News, 20 Sep. 2020
Observations of pinwheeling galaxies suggested that scaffolds of invisible matter held their stars together, while a repulsive form of energy drove galaxies apart.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2020
The man in the white vest pinwheeled his arms, ushering volunteers through the pick-up line outside the Salvation Army Community Center on Fourth Street with military precision.
—Lizzie Johnson, SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019
According to the space agency, IC 2051 is a spiral galaxy, noticeable in its whirling, pinwheeling arms and a bar of stars cutting through its center.
—Fox News, 23 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pinwheel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinwheel
Verb
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The dining room on the floor below has deep red carpets, gold chairs, burl wood walls in a herringbone pattern and reflective metallic paint on the ceiling that intensifies the rotating 360 degree views.—
Laurie Werner,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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Visit The Danville Museum Of Fine Arts And History For a crash course in Danville history, plus access to a rotating lineup of fine art exhibits, the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History is a one-stop shop for all things Danville culture.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Much of the value comes from learning how to avoid revolving credit card balances and leveraging better credit scores to secure preferential borrowing rates for key expenses, such as insurance, auto loans and home mortgages, according to Ranzetta.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2025
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Director Kenny Leon’s new production, however, seems caught between reverence for the original source material and a seemingly half-hearted attempt to renovate the setting around which the classic action revolves.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Here, guests will find Stardust Racers, a dual-track roller coaster, as well as Constellation Carousel, beautifully lit with animals that spin in different directions.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2025
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The polar vortex is a gigantic, circular area of cold air high up in the atmosphere that typically spins over the North Pole (as its name suggests).—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But the real show came later, when Ne-Yo was spotted on the dance floor twirling tongues with one of his girlfriends and grabbing her derriere.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The vehicle was preparing to plunge out of orbit and back into Earth’s atmosphere, twirling toward a safe splashdown in the ocean — and leaving fuel in its wake.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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