EN

Synonyms for curl

27 synonyms
4 antonyms
4 meanings

verb
noun

Most common

twist bend spiral wreathe billow draw in kink crimp

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Curve — to move in curves

curve, bend, wind, spiral, twist, wreathe, twine

2. Coil — to assume the shape of a curl or spiral

Other

kink, arch, crimp, wave, frizzle, draw in, crisp dated

Noun

1. Ringlet

ringlet, roll, scroll, whorl, gyre

2. Loop — A curved stroke or shape

curly cue, loop, flourish

Other

lock, tress, roll-up

Antonyms

straighten, unroll, uncoil

All antonyms of curl →

Definitions

v. 1
To assume the shape of a curl or spiral.
v. 2
To move in curves.
n. 1
A curved stroke or shape.
n. 2
A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet.
My hair doesn't have much curl.

Related words

Word family: curliness curly curled curler
Phrases: kiss curl cheese curl curl up love curl spit curl

Forms

Plural: curls → ringlets, rolls, scrolls, whorls…
Past participle: curled
e.g. curled → curved, bent, winded, spiraled…

Example sentences

twist Twist that knob to the right and the box will open.
bend Bend over backwards for him and he still complain.
spiral The Fibonacci spiral is found everywhere in nature.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
curl		rising
twist		rising
bend		rising
spiral		steady
wreathe		steady
billow		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: wind¹, roll¹, wave¹, lock¹, loop¹, bend¹, arch¹, coil¹, kink, gyre
5 letters: twist¹, curve¹, crisp¹, twine¹, crimp¹, whorl¹, tress¹
6 letters: spiral², scroll¹, billow²
7 letters: frizzle², ringlet, wreathe
8 letters: flourish²

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (spiral² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: friser
Español: rizar
Deutsch: frisieren
Català: arrissar