swirling
Spinning in circles
Swirling describes circular or spiral motion—liquid moving in a vortex, leaves caught in wind, or fog drifting in curling patterns: She sat swirling the wine in her glass.
The word extends to confused or chaotic movement: swirling rumors, swirling emotions.
Things that swirl seem to move without clear direction, caught up in their own turbulence.
Rapid rotation around axis
- rotateTurn about an axis
- revolveTurn around center
- eddyCircular counter-current
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
coil · curl · whorl · circulate · twist · helix · pirouette · gyrate
Violent whirlpool or upheaval
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- whirlpoolRotating water formation
- funnelCone directing flow
twister · typhoon · hurricane · waterspout · centrifuge · sinkhole · undertow · suction
Circular spiritual diagram
- kaleidoscopeTube with rotating color symmetry
- paisleyCurved teardrop textile motif
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
curl · filigree · tendril · scrollwork · flourish · curlicue · volute · marbling
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
gyre · coil · curl · whorl · circulate · twist · helix · pirouette · gyrate · orbit
maelstrom
Violent whirlpool or upheaval
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- whirlpoolRotating water formation
funnel · twister · typhoon · hurricane · waterspout · centrifuge · sinkhole · undertow · suction · drain
mandala
Circular spiritual diagram
- kaleidoscopeTube with rotating color symmetry
- paisleyCurved teardrop textile motif
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
whorl · curl · filigree · tendril · scrollwork · flourish · curlicue · volute · marbling · tie-dye
waltz
Dance in three-quarter time
ballroom · flamenco · tango · foxtrot · sway · flourish · glide · turn · revolution
turbulence
Chaotic flow patterns
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- tumultNoisy, chaotic disturbance
- commotionNoisy, confused disturbance
frenzy · confusion · disorder · upheaval · mayhem · bedlam · pandemonium · disarray · muddle · flurry
- wind actionblowing, gusting, howling, whistling, whipping
- movementwalk, move, go, run, jump
- drinkingbooze, liquor, guzzling, gulping, chugging
- cake decoratingfondant, piping bag, piping tips, buttercream, ganache
- dance qualitiesfluidity, graceful, musicality, rhythmic, grace
- fluid movementflowing, pouring, dripping, draining, oozing
swirlingstraight
Not curved or crooked
linear · direct · unidirectional · rectilinear · arrow-straight
swirlingstill
Unmoving, or continuing
motionless · stationary · static · stagnant · unmoving