What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
twirligig
Example
The children were delighted with their new twirligigs and spent hours playing with them. [twirligigs: plural noun]
Example
The garden was filled with colorful twirligigs that spun in the breeze. [twirligigs: plural noun]
Example
He couldn't sit still and kept twirling his pen like a twirligig. [twirligig: noun]
spinner
Example
The children took turns spinning the spinner to determine who would go first. [spinner: noun]
Example
He found it calming to play with his fidget spinner during stressful moments. [fidget spinner: compound noun]
Example
The ballerina was a graceful spinner, executing multiple pirouettes with ease. [spinner: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spinner is a more common and widely recognized term than twirligig. It is used in a variety of contexts, from toys to machines to people. Twirligig is a less common term that is often associated with childhood or nostalgia.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between twirligig and spinner?
Neither twirligig nor spinner is particularly formal or informal. Both words can be used in a playful or lighthearted context, but spinner can also be used in more serious or technical contexts.
