What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
vortices
Example
The tornado created multiple vortices that caused damage to the surrounding area. [vortices: noun]
Example
The water drained out of the sink in a vortex. [vortex: singular noun]
swirl
Example
The leaves swirled around in the wind. [swirled: past tense verb]
Example
The artist used a brush to create swirls of color on the canvas. [swirls: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Swirl is more commonly used than vortices in everyday language. Swirl is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while vortices is a more technical term used in specific fields.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between vortices and swirl?
Vortices is a more formal term used in scientific and technical contexts, while swirl is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.