stir (up)

verb

Definition of stir (up)next
as in to provoke
to bring something (volatile or intense) into being couldn't stir up any interest in a Saturday morning outing to the art museum

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stir (up)
  1. provoke
  2. raise
Verb
  • North Korea denied responsibility for the explosions and warned of strong retaliation if provoked.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In 2012 American entrepreneur Russ George spread roughly 100 tons of iron in the North Pacific, provoking international criticism that a commercial venture had begun geoengineering without adequate oversight.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • In 2022, the central bank raised rates by three-quarters of a point six days before the midterm elections, part of its fight against the worst inflation in four decades.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • And the evidence uncovered by Chair Loudermilk raises serious questions about Speaker Pelosi's role in those decisions.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of raise
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.

Browse Nearby Words

stirs (up)
stir (up)
stitch
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Cite this Entry

“Stir (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stir%20%28up%29. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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