variants
also whirr
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
a whir coming from the refrigerator
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whir
James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Because white requires more power for this monitor to display, too much of it also means the fan whirs to life.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 28 Oct. 2022
John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Before her substitution after 62 minutes, Smith was all whirring legs and energy, her goal — Liverpool’s opener — a microcosm of this.
—Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
Not even the thudding whir of rotor blades from a helicopter overhead quietened them.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Because white requires more power for this monitor to display, too much of it also means the fan whirs to life.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 28 Oct. 2022
Verb
The tray slid back in—similar to a DVD player—and the machine began whirring.
—John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Before her substitution after 62 minutes, Smith was all whirring legs and energy, her goal — Liverpool’s opener — a microcosm of this.
—Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Verb
-
Not so long ago, Tom Izzo and John Beilein had the rivalry humming, which made Michigan’s recent downturn even starker.—
Austin Meek,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Every hallway hums with reggae, dancehall, lover rock and soca playing through the intercoms, setting the tone for a journey through decades of unforgettable music.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Giving him a little hug and hearing him purr definitely lifts my spirit.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
2 Feb. 2025
-
My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out the anticipatory purr of two ambulance engines idling nearby.—
Daphne Ewing-Chow,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
And that whisper affected several subsequent batches.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
20 Feb. 2025
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Casualties of the layoff have turned to online whisper networks such as Blind to air their grievances.—
Brooke Erin Duffy,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Russell’s first-ever time attending a fest — in January to industry buzz and rave reviews.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2025
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The embattled ex-co-stars first drew buzz and controversy with their roles in the romantic drama, which explores domestic violence in relationships, after fans noticed potential beef between the A-list actress and director Baldoni on the movie's summer press tour.—
Jay Stahl,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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