Synonyms of stir

stir 1 of 3

verb

ˈstər 

1

as in to swirl

to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly

the recipe says to stir the mixture carefully until it's properly blended

Synonyms & Similar Words

• swirl
• wash
• whisk
• shake
• agitate
• whip
• churn
• whirl
• beat
• paddle
• reel
• wheel

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

• shift
• move
• twitch
• squirm
• budge
• fidget
• wiggle
• toss
• locomote
• rouse
• jiggle
• writhe
• wriggle
• fiddle
• squiggle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freeze
• remain
• stay
• stabilize
• still
• hang around
• stick around
• tarry

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

• provoke
• encourage
• stimulate
• arouse
• inspire
• incite
• spark
• excite
• move
• instigate
• motivate
• induce
• rev (up)
• fire (up)
• pique
• drive
• motive
• trigger
• ignite
• impassion
• anger
• inflame
• build a fire under
• galvanize
• activate
• foment
• energize
• set off
• ferment
• animate
• bother
• fan
• quicken
• vitalize
• kindle
• enrage
• upset
• raise
• whip (up)
• pump up
• annoy
• tease
• key (up)
• aggravate
• get
• taunt
• abet
• irritate
• exasperate
• vex
• jeer
• gall
• madden

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• subdue
• soothe
• appease
• placate
• pacify
• tranquilize
• mollify

stir

2 of 3

noun (1)

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

• commotion
• disturbance
• hurry
• fuss
• turmoil
• storm
• noise
• racket
• clatter
• fun
• ruckus
• to-do
• uproar
• furor
• furore
• hurricane
• tumult
• coil
• bother
• row
• stew
• clutter
• bustle
• kerfuffle
• roar
• hoopla
• pandemonium
• hubbub
• whirl
• rumpus
• hullabaloo
• ado
• zoo
• flurry
• blather
• ruction
• pother
• do
• splore
• squall
• bluster
• moil
• shindy
• ballyhoo
• hurry-scurry
• foofaraw
• upheaval
• hoo-ha
• welter
• bobbery
• outcry
• clamor
• alarums and excursions
• unrest
• helter-skelter
• hurly-burly
• howl
• hurly
• din
• hubble-bubble
• cacophony
• flutter
• disorder
• williwaw
• hue and cry
• eruption
• outburst
• scuffle
• brawl
• outbreak
• fray
• fracas
• tizzy
• fever
• lather
• melee
• fret
• flare-up
• dither
• hassle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• peace
• calm
• hush
• quiet
• stillness
• tranquility
• order
• quietude
• orderliness

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

• shifting
• stirring
• move
• shift
• movement
• motion
• relocation
• flapping
• twitching
• migration
• dislocation
• squirm
• mobility
• motility
• locomotion
• waving
• fiddling
• writhing
• squirming
• fidgeting
• wriggling
• motivity
• flailing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inertia
• pause
• immobility
• stop
• motionlessness
• halt
• finish
• stillness
• termination
• shutdown
• lapse
• expiration
• stoppage
• cessation
• discontinuance
• ending
• inertness
• shutoff
• surcease

stir

3 of 3

noun (2)

slang

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

• jail
• prison
• penitentiary
• brig
• pen
• jug
• calaboose
• lockup
• cooler
• can
• hold
• big house
• hock
• slammer
• bastille
• clink
• coop
• hoosegow
• slam
• jailhouse
• stockade
• pokey
• bridewell
• cage
• guardroom
• tank
• nick
• quod
• joint
• tolbooth
• bull pen
• cell
• dungeon
• concentration camp
• keep
• ward
• hole
• labor camp
• work camp
• prison camp
• block
• guardhouse
• glasshouse
• stalag
• hulk(s)
• reform school
• gulag
• reformatory
• training school
• oubliette

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• outside

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stir

Verb

Add the flour, Cajun seasoning, and garlic powder and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Coover’s unlikely bid to seize a congressional seat that his Republican opponent won by 19 percent two years ago was only one indication this summer that a new sort of rural progressivism was beginning to stir across the Great Plains. — Kyle Paoletta, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Noun

Maybe removing Joel Shapiro's Blue so summarily from its perch at the Kennedy Center will make people even more eager to seek out the towering figure who caused such a stir. — Scott Simon, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026

The failure of Palombella Rossa, about a communist politician and water polo player, to make it into competition created a stir at the time amid suggestions the exclusion was politically motivated. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing stir

• stir (up)