1
2
as in to shift
to change one's position
the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of stir
Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025
Add the butter and continue simmering, now stirring constantly, until incorporated; the sauce will thicken and become shiny as the butter melts.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
O’Donnell—who just opened a second Mother location at Track 15, Providence’s first-ever food hall—also caused a stir with a Hawaiian-ish pie featuring pineapple slivers, ’nduja, roasted peppers, caciocavallo, and hot honey.
—Madison Trapkin, Saveur, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stir
Verb
But the plan has stirred considerable concern among conservation groups, including Audubon Florida, the Sierra Club and Captains for Clean Water.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 22 May 2025
Add the butter and continue simmering, now stirring constantly, until incorporated; the sauce will thicken and become shiny as the butter melts.
—The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
Noun
Berry created a stir by donning a mermaid-style gown by designer LaQuan Smith that was mostly see-through.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
O’Donnell—who just opened a second Mother location at Track 15, Providence’s first-ever food hall—also caused a stir with a Hawaiian-ish pie featuring pineapple slivers, ’nduja, roasted peppers, caciocavallo, and hot honey.
—Madison Trapkin, Saveur, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stir
Verb
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However, most small business owners—even those without wildness swirling around them—eventually hit this wall.—
Renae Gregoire,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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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
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That leadership change followed GOP gains through 2024’s Senate Bill 382, which shifted appointment powers from Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) to Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
28 May 2025
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Conforto said he’s seen signs that something could be shifting.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Doctors gave her Pitocin, a medication used to provoke contractions, and a Foley balloon, which is a catheter-like device that gets the cervix to dilate.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
20 May 2025
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But if Washington follows a few principles, such improvements will not necessarily provoke Chinese aggression.—
Oriana Skylar Mastro,
Foreign Affairs,
20 May 2025
Verb
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The linen cotton blend isn’t see-through and is safe to machine wash on a gentle cycle and even tumble dry on low afterward.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
27 May 2025
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The brand recommends washing the mat in cold water on the gentle cycle, and tumble drying it on a low speed or laying it flat to air dry.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
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If the execution moves forward this time, Smith will be the first inmate executed in Tennessee since 2020 and the 19th in the U.S. this year.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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By all accounts, seeing the interior of the home is a moving experience.—
Maurice Carlos Ruffin,
Time,
21 May 2025
Verb
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There is no fee to nominate and self-nominations are encouraged.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 May 2025
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Attendees are encouraged to bring new or gently used early-reader children’s books.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
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The shift in setting, from the States to Sicily, should yield evocative and, at least for a video game, new sights: The story itself begins in the Sicilian sulfur mines before whisking players through a rural landscape of pretty villages and aromatic lemon groves.—
Lewis Gordon,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Meanwhile, whisk together egg yolks and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a large bowl.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
Verb
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These wildfires, while destructive, have also provided researchers with insights into giant sequoia ecology, revealing that moderate-severity burns can stimulate seed release and create favorable germination conditions.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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Muscles, heart rate, strength, motor control — and the brain — all are stimulated by exercise.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stir. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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