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
Relevance
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
Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
Not even the thudding whir of rotor blades from a helicopter overhead quietened them.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2025
As busy as Franklin was with his political and diplomatic roles, his scientific mind never stopped whirring.
—Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Noun
In the first two weeks after Hurricane Helene, there was a constant whir of helicopters flying overhead.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
Not even the thudding whir of rotor blades from a helicopter overhead quietened them.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Verb
The new species and other whirring tree frog species were identified by their DNA, subtle physical features and call sounds, the study said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2025
As busy as Franklin was with his political and diplomatic roles, his scientific mind never stopped whirring.
—Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Verb
-
There’s absolutely no reason constraints ought to hum.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
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Joe Raedle/Getty Images For more than a century, the U.S. and Canada have sold each other electricity through power lines that criss-cross the border, an arrangement that has historically hummed along thanks to the warm relationship between the two countries.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Her plush cat, with a pillow-like body and realistic purr, will be sold direct to consumer on her website.—
Joan Verdon,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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Giving him a little hug and hearing him purr definitely lifts my spirit.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Some earbuds claim to be noise-canceling but barely block out a whisper.—
Juhi Wadia,
PCMAG,
17 Mar. 2025
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There were also controlling parents and whispers of abuse throughout the industry.—
Louisa Thomas,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard backs up the product’s buzz.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
14 Mar. 2025
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Fast-food chains have turned the holiday into a must-watch food event, rolling out limited-edition menu items and promotions designed to drive foot traffic, rack up app sign-ups, and spark social media buzz.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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