1
2
as in to shift
to change one's position
the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to provoke
to rouse to strong feeling or action
news coverage of the fire stirred many to send donations to a fund for the families who had lost their homes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the plane's first jolt caused a stir among the passengers, and by the third one they were in a panic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position
we were warned that the slightest stir would scare the mother bird so we hardly dared to breathe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the mule had just got out of stir and was being followed by the feds, who had their sights set on the kingpin of the operation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stir
Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Nashville’s lockout from the major categories year after year (aside from an outlier like Beyonce’s one-time genre dip) is bound to stir discussion going forward.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2025
The couple's age gap caused a stir at the beginning of their romance, but Gibson didn't seem to mind.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stir
Verb
For Native people, the war marked a dangerous fork in the road, stirring famine, spurring a massive refugee crisis, and permanently shifting the balance of power in the heart of the continent.
—Noun
Use them to elevate the taste of stir fries, salads and even cocktails.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for stir
Verb
-
In the days after the news of the split was made public, rumors swirled that Alix was linked to another NFL player — New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart — after a photo circulated online that appeared to show Dart sliding into the influencer’s DMs.—
-
Rumors swirled, but 63-year-old veteran businessman Greg Abel was ultimately named his successor in 2025.—
Verb
-
As 2025 fades away in the rearview mirror, Americans have quickly shifted their attention toward recent events in Venezuela.—
-
The company later shifted focus to menstrual health.—
Verb
-
Analysts and insiders told CBS News the scale of the response to Pahalvi's call could determine whether the deadly, 12-day-old protests fizzle out as previous rounds of unrest have, or grow into a major challenge to the government, and provoke a possible wider crackdown.—
-
Intrusive thoughts provoke an anxious spiral as the moon and Saturn oppose.—
Verb
-
There was also a punt-blocking Isaiah Simmons, an intercepting Mike Jackson, and a swell of 73,000-plus standing souls, washing the stadium in noise and blue and joy.—
-
In Iranian Muslim culture, dead bodies are typically washed and then covered in white cotton fabric before burial.—
Verb
-
Enrollment Though still growing overall, state economists reported in early January that K-12 enrollment numbers were nearly 42,500 lower than predicted, with signs of continuing downward trends moving forward.—
-
Researchers at the University of Manchester, led by Professor Thomas Anthopoulos, have successfully stabilized perovskite solar cells, which could help move the low-cost technology into the global mass market.—
Verb
-
The teeth also captured climate shifts such as the Late Antique Little Ice Age and the Medieval Climate Anomaly, which might have encouraged some increase in migration into England.—
-
Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form.—
Verb
-
Then, Grace whisked her daughter off to the remote Galápagos Islands, widely interpreted as an effort to distance her from the escalating romance, away from press and palace pressure.—
-
We are immediately being whisked from room to room as our doctors on the day shift get to work.—
Verb
-
Cold showers stimulate the vagus nerve, reduce inflammation, and activate parts of the brain that can calm the body after long exposure.—
-
The implication was that there could be an easily accessible, off-the-shelf shot capable of stimulating the immune system to fight cancer.—
Cite this Entry
“Stir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stir. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share