churned

Definition of churnednext
past tense of churn
1
as in swirled
to be in a state of violent rolling motion a churning sea made getting to the island a risky undertaking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 churned Blastomyces dermatitidis – Found in moist soils and near water bodies; spores can spread when soil is churned by storms, floods, or human activity. Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026 Curious actions have further churned up controversy around elections. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026 But this morning, the thought of the spicy cake of tubers, wild orchids, and peanuts churned my stomach. Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026 Rare was the creative artist, post-1970, who wasn’t churned up by bobbing in the Beatles’ wake. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026 And while the city churned with anger, Se7enbites owner Trina Gregory took steps, swift ones, to bring some beauty back. Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026 Wind gusts buffeted the mountain and churned the air into a flurry of ice crystals that stung the climbers’ faces and crackled against their helmets. Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026 Markets have churned in response to the fighting, which has massively disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial energy corridor. Kevin Breuninger,sam Meredith,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026 Her signature style combines the best elements of high-butterfat American-style ice cream and South Asian kulfi, a denser frozen treat with no air churned in. Beth Kracklauer, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churned
Verb
  • Even so, tens of millions of litres of oil swirled through the Gulf.
    Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The base is kept dark chocolate or chestnut brown, while lighter colors are beautifully swirled throughout.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Prone to flooding, the Trinity has a soft bottom that’s constantly being stirred, causing prehistoric fossils and bones to surface.
    Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Understanding stirred, a flutter in the very center of her chest.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • And once the egg has been hard boiled, there's no way to kill bacteria that get inside, Baker said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The legs and thighs for the tinga are boiled in aged chicken stock, mixed with adobo and braised before being picked up on the plancha for service.
    Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Instead of being thrown out, these items will be washed and reused in an effort to cut down on plastic waste at CHS Field.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Amid an ongoing court battle over clergy access to the west suburban ICE facility, Catholic ministers entered the building and, in the traditional Holy Thursday ritual, washed the feet of 14 detainees at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility, April 2, 2026, in Broadview.
    Todd Panagopoulos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Illinois freshman then spun to his left and hopped back behind the 3-point line, swishing his second 3-pointer of the night.
    Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • This is made of cellulose spun into the fibers.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Only problem was, teammate Trevor Zegras whirled the rookie around by the neck, and the rest of the Flyers mobbed the ice and pinned Martone against the boards in a wild celebration worthy of a playoff victory.
    CBS News, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.
    Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Despite performing alongside the Sailors, Burney quietly seethed over the way Guzmán treated the band, and Fernández in particular.
    Longreads, Longreads, 5 Mar. 2026
  • For the next several years, Hostetler seethed on the bench.
    Tim Rohan, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Churned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churned. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on churned

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster