CHURNING Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

churning

verb

present participle of churn

as in swirling

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stirring

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 churning Meanwhile, Hurricane Isaias is churning its way toward the northeastern Gulf Coast and is likely to make landfall as a hurricane, according to a consensus of most computer models — not just DeepMind. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 Tropical Storm Isaias, which is churning hundreds of miles south of the Gulf Coast, is expected to rapidly strengthen in the next 24 to 48 hours before making landfall on Friday as a hurricane. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 In the churning, deep waters of the Bay of All Saints, conventional construction equipment doesn’t stand a chance. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026 Two hurricanes churning in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico are sending high surf toward Southern California that will overlap with unusually high tides, bringing hazards for beachgoers and possible coastal flooding. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 Two other powerful storms were churning in the Atlantic Ocean but were not near land. — Eugene Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 Farther out in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Nolo was churning about 305 miles south of South Point, Hawaii. — Megan Janetsky, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026 The driver wrenched the Jeep to the left, arm over arm churning at the wheel. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026 Monster stars Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, and Ella Beatty, along with Max Winkler, the series’ director and executive producer who oversaw the second episode, break down the stomach-churning scene for Entertainment Weekly. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for churning

Verb

With these conspiracy theories swirling, some researchers are now seeing the models more as competitors than tools—and the use of them as a betrayal.

— Peter Hall, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
And while there are questions swirling about Akayleb Evans and whether Evans will be replaced by Chau Smith-Wade, one player didn’t get the same scrutiny.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of swirling

Verb

The story centers on two ex-lovers who come back into each other’s lives after spending decades apart, only to find old feelings stirring with messy and mixed results.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over and just cooked through, 3–4 minutes more.

— Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of stirring

Verb

Antetokounmpo also blocked a Noah Clowney dunk attempt a few minutes later, and then got the ball back for a spinning finger roll on the other end.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Use one of the big red buttons to listen to whatever is spinning live on NTS Channel 1 and Channel 2, or scroll through a rotary dial to listen to one of 16 music-only radio streams.

— Kevin Cortez, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of spinning

Verb

The whirling magnetic states arise in these non-Heisenberg compounds partly because the local atomic environment creates a strong crystal electric field.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
The combat scenes, frequently pitting Latif’s sharpened steel against more popular American weaponry, are staged with whirling verve, wit and, best of all, balletic coherence.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026