churn

1
as in to swirl
to be in a state of violent rolling motion a churning sea made getting to the island a risky undertaking

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2
as in to stir
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly churn the cream until it turns into butter

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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 churn Instead, the GPUs churn on the metadata, a tiny fraction of the dataset. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 The machine is designed to churn up 110 tons (100 metric tons) of lunar dirt, or regolith, per hour to harvest helium-3, a potential fuel source for future fusion reactors. Julian Dossett, Space.com, 19 May 2025 When the ocean is relatively calm and shallow, there is also less plankton, sand, particles, and other materials constantly churning in the waves, which gives the water a clearer appearance. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 16 May 2025 Here’s what the next few days could hold: Dangerous storms threaten major Midwest metros Thursday A storm churning over the north-central US Thursday morning fueled feisty storms later in the afternoon and evening in the Midwest. Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for churn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churn
Verb
  • However, most small business owners—even those without wildness swirling around them—eventually hit this wall.
    Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • Read more: Insider Reveals Lakers Could Move Key Piece in Offseason Trade While the rumors have been swirling, trading Reaves would be a very difficult decision.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Leia forms the Resistance Senator Leia Organa discovers a new danger stirring in the galaxy: the First Order.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 25 May 2025
  • Transfer onions to a medium bowl and stir in Worcestershire sauce.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The setup can boil water in just two minutes, perfect for hot beverages, soups, or dehydrated meals while camping or exploring natural areas, where access to conveniences may be limited.
    Will McGough, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Hanging, inevitably, over the weekend’s celebration was the current occupant of the Oval Office, a boiling black cloud compared to the radiant and sunshiny Reagan.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • To have this ability to contain secrets but to withhold them and have this facade with Michaela that’s totally different than the relationship with her sister, to keep all those plates spinning, that’s a tall order.
    Lauren Coates, Variety, 24 May 2025
  • The film spins its wheels toward the end, even while landing on a hilariously macabre final image that feels ripped out of the most nihilistic of French arthouse classics.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • With Cindric failing to launch an attack on the lead behind Wallace, Team Penske teammate Joey Logano was seething.
    Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • The clouds are being eroded and shaped by the seething radiation from the cluster of larger stars in the center.
    Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Churn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churn. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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