Synonyms of stew

stew 1 of 2

noun

ˈstü 

1

as in huff

a state of nervous or irritated concern

many in town are in a stew about the proposed plan to close at least one of the elementary schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

• huff
• sweat
• panic
• fuss
• fret
• tizzy
• lather
• swelter
• pother
• swivet
• dither
• twitter
• fluster
• dudgeon
• pique
• delirium
• hysteria
• agitation
• alarm
• ado
• bother
• hand-wringing
• nervous breakdown
• furor
• distraction
• uproar

2

as in stir

a state of noisy, confused activity

the audience went into a stew when the evacuation order was announced

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

3

as in medley

an unorganized collection or mixture of various things

the documentary looks at the stew of conspiracy theories inspired by the assassination

Synonyms & Similar Words

• medley
• jumble
• variety
• assortment
• collage
• gumbo
• salad
• ragout
• blend
• mélange
• amalgam
• potpourri
• hash
• jungle
• jambalaya
• litter
• mishmash
• patchwork
• scramble
• hodgepodge
• smorgasbord
• clutter
• farrago
• shuffle
• pastiche
• gallimaufry
• hotchpotch
• menagerie
• patchwork quilt
• mixed bag
• alphabet soup
• rummage
• grab bag
• ragbag
• omnium-gatherum
• crazy quilt
• agglomeration
• tangle
• miscellany
• agglomerate
• olio
• motley
• miscellanea
• combination
• montage
• salmagundi
• botch
• accumulation
• macédoine
• welter
• muddle
• tumble
• olla podrida
• conglomerate
• aggregation
• conglomeration
• aggregate
• fusion
• detritus
• mess
• notions
• composite
• compound
• sundries
• admixture
• chaos
• odds and ends
• catchall
• commixture
• intermixture
• oddments
• alloy
• morass
• disarray
• disorder
• mix-up
• snarl
• imbroglio
• confusion
• shambles
• disarrangement
• dog's breakfast
• bollix
• knot

4

as in brothel

a building in which prostitutes are available

a red-light district full of down and dirty stews

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brothel
• disorderly house
• bawdy house
• bordello
• cathouse
• sporting house
• bagnio
• massage parlor
• harem
• call house
• crib
• seraglio

stew

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to boil

to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam

stew the chicken till tender, and then remove the meat from the bones

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boil
• simmer
• parboil
• poach
• steam
• coddle
• braise
• fricassee
• pressure-cook
• scald
• reboil
• smother

2

as in to worry

to experience concern or anxiety

stop stewing over that game and just try to do better next time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worry
• fear
• fret
• trouble
• stress
• sweat
• sweat blood
• bother
• fuss
• give a hang
• long
• pine
• agonize
• yearn
• despair
• chafe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• take
• sustain
• bear
• tolerate
• endure
• abide
• stomach
• stick out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stew

Noun

The also British Rosa — that’s four Brits onboard — has years of experience, even as a chief stew. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

Aisha and her sister Nadia had spent the afternoon kneeling over a camping stove, preparing a lamb-and-okra stew. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Verb

Roasting, stewing, baking—those are all great ways to make okra. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 13 July 2026

Just as Phillies fans will scream about my snub of Marsh, Dodgers fans will stew over my omission of Wrobleski, especially when Wheeler did not return from thoracic outlet surgery until April 25. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 July 2026