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)
Verb
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For the Mexican government, the battle against the cartels risks provoking violence across the country, as gang members retaliate against the security forces and battle each other.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
23 Feb. 2026 -
The play spoke eloquently to its own time but continued to provoke and inform in subsequent generations.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Charlotte raised upward of $3 million for roster construction, program and facility upgrades in December, and will have more than double last season’s amount for the 2026 football team, per a source.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
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But should the polls in the late spring still resemble those from mid-winter, powerful Democrats may pressure some of the candidates who have struggled to raise money or secure much support in the polls to drop out.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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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 3 Mar. 2026.
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