whirlpool
noun
whirl·pool
ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l-ˌpül 
1
a
: a confused tumult and bustle : whirl
b
: a magnetic or impelling force by which something may be engulfed
refusing to be drawn into this whirlpool of intrigue—
A. D. White
A. D. White2
b
Examples of whirlpool in a Sentence
The swimmer was caught in a whirlpool and nearly drowned.
in The Odyssey, Ulysses is trapped between the six-headed monster Scylla and Charybdis, a deadly whirlpool that threatens to suck in his ship
Recent Examples on the Web
TikToks showed torrents gushing into subway cars and whirlpools forming in the street.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 15 July 2025
Saunas, steam rooms, hot whirlpools and cold plunges are also a part of the wellness journey.
—Katie Sweeney, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
There is also a full hydrotherapy circuit—steam room, sauna, whirlpool, and cold plunge —along with a set of soft cocoon chairs with warm water running through them meant to simulate the sensation of being in the womb.
—David Shortell, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2025
Ensuring food safety Items that are cooked get quickly cooled down in glass chillers or icy whirlpools.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirlpool
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Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 15 July 2025
Saunas, steam rooms, hot whirlpools and cold plunges are also a part of the wellness journey.
—Katie Sweeney, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
There is also a full hydrotherapy circuit—steam room, sauna, whirlpool, and cold plunge —along with a set of soft cocoon chairs with warm water running through them meant to simulate the sensation of being in the womb.
—David Shortell, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2025
Ensuring food safety Items that are cooked get quickly cooled down in glass chillers or icy whirlpools.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for whirlpool
Cite this Entry
“Whirlpool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whirlpool. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whirlpool
noun
whirl·pool
ˈhwər(-ə)l-ˌpül
ˈwər(-ə)l-
1
: water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center into which floating objects are drawn : eddy
2
Medical Definition
whirlpool
noun
whirl·pool
ˈhwər(-ə)l-ˌpül, ˈwər(-ə)l-
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