churning

present participle of churn
1
as in swirling
to be in a state of violent rolling motion a churning sea made getting to the island a risky undertaking

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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 Tropical Storm Melissa is churning in the Caribbean Sea and will likely strengthen into a major hurricane by the weekend. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025 Earnings are revving up this week, and investors are keeping a close eye on results that could be the catalyst to keep markets churning higher. Nick Wells,pia Singh, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025 With the running game churning up the turf, Young was able to take advantage with a second touchdown toss to McMillan for a 2-yard score in the fourth quarter. Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025 Mischief in the mind of Cole Martin, the defensive back, moonlighted as a magician and snatched the direct snap before darting through a crease and churning ahead for a trick of a first down. Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 Get your brain churning and start your morning by testing out your knowledge. Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025 The night at Al Baretto ends with a flourishing of sorbet, with a waiter churning the white mound in an iced silver bowl. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 The brutal, provocative opening scene featuring Xavier Dolan depicting the realism of bigotry and hate is stomach-churning, but fits into the dark atmosphere of the source material. Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025 The latest forecasts also follow twin hurricanes Humberto and Imelda that are churning in the Atlantic as well. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churning
Verb
  • Some have likened the controversy surrounding Savin's display of old-time mobsters to the debate swirling around old statues of Confederate generals.
    Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
  • There's plenty of headlines swirling before Game 1 begins Friday at Rogers Centre.
    Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high, stirring occasionally.
    Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Keep your hips steady, and make small circles to the right with your forearms as if stirring a pot.
    Mallory Creveling, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water, combine chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup.
    Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of gradually boiling into insanity, the film hits fever pitch hallucinations right away and quickly exhausts itself attempting to keep pace.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By comparison, Seoul Station tells us more about how the zombie virus began while also spinning a tight, impactful story centered on three compelling characters.
    Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The trailer tees up his infatuation rom-com style before spinning into explosive action.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Perhaps more than any other individual in the whirling sphere of fashion, Margareta van den Bosch catapulted high-low dressing.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Here, the tarantella is by turns gleeful and demonic — a frantic dance of the doomed, whirling through a mist of contemporary clangor.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Paul King had to walk by that poster every day on his walk to school, silently seething.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Barkley waltzed into the end zone untouched, and the Eagles continued to leave many football fans seething.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Churning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churning. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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