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
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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 Chargers rotated heavily at corner in Tuesday’s practice.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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The brigade rotates its infantry only on days when fog, rain, snow, or heavy wind limit the enemy’s visibility.—
Nataliya Gumenyuk,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2025
Verb
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The best way to pay off debt The best move for those struggling to pay down revolving credit card debt is to consolidate with a 0% balance transfer card, experts suggest.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
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The filing also details various financial agreements, including a revolving credit agreement entered on May 1, 2024, with a maturity date of May 1, 2029.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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To have this ability to contain secrets but to withhold them and have this facade with Michaela that’s totally different than the relationship with her sister, to keep all those plates spinning, that’s a tall order.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
24 May 2025
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Díaz sprang from behind the plate, picked up the ball on the line with his back to first base, spun and threw out Murphy by a step.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Constellation Carousel allows guests to whirl and twirl across the Milky Way.—
Samantha Neely,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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Or Dima Bilan, Russia’s winner in 2008, whose setup included a mini-ice rink, on which Bilan sang while an ice dancer twirled around him.—
Miriam Quick,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pinwheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinwheel. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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