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 restaurant offers Mediterranean specialties like samosas, chicken kebab, hummus, and Persian stews. — Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 20 Aug. 2026

Their sound was described as a hybrid mixing elements of rock, blues and funk into a steaming-hot Houston stew. — CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Verb

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC appears noticeably more clear and less green in the weeks before the Fourth of July as renovation work continues, but controversy still stews. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 22 June 2026

For the past six months, the Aussies have stewed – and rallied — behind a one-word analysis from the World Cup draw that put them in the same four-team pod with Team USA, Turkey and Paraguay. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 18 June 2026