1
as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
the message of brotherhood in Martin Luther King's stirring "I Have a Dream" speech still resonates today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies
a stirring rendition of the national anthem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity
spring has arrived, and the meadow is stirring with life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position
I thought I detected a slight stirring of the leaves, and yet there wasn't a breath of wind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in moving
to change one's position
the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provoking
to rouse to strong feeling or action
news coverage of the fire stirred many to send donations to a fund for the families who had lost their homes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 stirring
Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 4 May 2026
President Kais Saied has often cited foreign funding, which rights groups sometimes rely on, as a threat to Tunisia, using it to fuel a populist narrative and accuse his political opponents and social justice activists of being foreign agents and stirring unrest at home.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, presented the Luminary Award to Copeland with a stirring tribute that truly underscored her importance as someone who is not only a master of her art form, but a cultural ambassador for it as well.
—Joshua Dudley, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
In this early 19th-century rebirth of backcountry religion, traveling ministers preached a fiery gospel of grace, stirring large crowds with their open-air sermons.
—Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Adjective
On Saturday, Embiid checked the Celtics off his list, scoring 34 points in a stirring Game 7 upset over Boston.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 4 May 2026
President Kais Saied has often cited foreign funding, which rights groups sometimes rely on, as a threat to Tunisia, using it to fuel a populist narrative and accuse his political opponents and social justice activists of being foreign agents and stirring unrest at home.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
There have been electric atmospheres too — the noise in Mexico City for the tournament’s opener was genuinely soul-stirring.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, presented the Luminary Award to Copeland with a stirring tribute that truly underscored her importance as someone who is not only a master of her art form, but a cultural ambassador for it as well.
—Joshua Dudley, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
On the flip side, Jackson earned his first Tony nomination in 2023 for his stirring performance in a revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson.
—Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026
In this early 19th-century rebirth of backcountry religion, traveling ministers preached a fiery gospel of grace, stirring large crowds with their open-air sermons.
—Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirring
Adjective
-
Catch a show with a breathtaking backdrop.—
Tamara Gane,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2026
-
Nina Dobrev put an unexpected—yet breathtaking—spin on the bridal trend on Saturday.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
What emotional content lies just below the surface?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
-
Fun dads often skip the emotional pregame.—
Jen Zamzow,
CNBC,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
The device will completely block the ear canal and cause a low buzzing noise that makes drifting off hard.—
Liana Handler
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
Hudson Square is a thriving and buzzing creative hub–and the Dominick’s Street Art Search is designed so their guests could experience exactly that.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Save emails and messages that show shifting expectations, unwarranted criticism or attempts to take credit for your work.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Many of the options are changing to accommodate shifting preferences.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Rumors then began swirling that Wilde and Pugh clashed on set over creative differences.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
Some other great ways to use it include thinning it with lemon juice and water for a salad dressing, drizzling it over roasted cauliflower or sweet potato, swirling it into a savory oatmeal, or using it as the base for noodle sauces.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Officers can use voice commands, and if those don’t work options include pepper spray, a baton, a TASER or fire extinguisher, though some are more difficult to use on a fast-moving animal, the directive says.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Chris Young’s Beyond Earth column explores the intersection of space technology and policy, providing thought-provoking commentary on the latest advancements and regulatory developments in the sector.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
Experts don’t fully agree on how helpful a low-histamine diet—which limits histamine-provoking foods—is for systemic mastocytosis.—
Gagandeep Brar,
Health,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Other research has reinforced the idea that reframing a stressful challenge into an exciting opportunity can lead to better performance.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Most exciting perhaps is how intuitive the lights are.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirring. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
