"Finally, the whir of the shells and the whistling of the bullets are over," wrote French infantryman Alfred Roumiguieres.
Source: tatoeba (7453358)
Whir
/wɜː/
Synonyms for "whir" (57 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (12)
Strong matches (17)
Verb(1 words)
Related words (28)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: angular momentum, angular motion, angular velocity, axial motion, birr.
- Sentence evidence is available for whir, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "whir".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "whir"
Keep "whir" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "whir" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "whir", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "whir" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
6 entriesdrill whirengine whirfan whirgenerator whirmotor whirturbine whir
Collocations
11 entriesconstant whirelectrical whirengine whirfan whirgentle whirloud whirmechanical whirsoft whirsteady whirwhir of fanswhir of machinery
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
"Oh, they never look at anything that folks like we can understand," the carter continued, by way of passing the time. "On'y foreign tongues used in the days of the Tower of Babel, when no two families spoke alike. They read that sort of thing as fast as a night-hawk will whir. 'Tis all learning there—nothing but learning, except religion. And that's learning too, for I never could understand it. Yes, 'tis a serious-minded place. Not but there's wenches in the streets o' nights…"
Source: tatoeba (11477325)
The scientist noted the microphone picked up a gust of wind, along with a gentle “whir” sound from the rover itself.
Source: tatoeba (12013516)
Suddenly, the time-keeper struck three bells, and the deeper notes of the bell forrard, answered them. I gave a start. It seemed to me that they had been struck close to my elbow. There was something unaccountably strange in the air that night. Then, even as the Second Mate answered the look-out's "All's well," there came the sharp whir and rattle of running gear, on the port side of the mainmast.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "whir"?
Closest matches include angular momentum, angular motion, angular velocity, axial motion, birr.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "whir"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.