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
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2
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies
a stirring rendition of the national anthem
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3
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity
spring has arrived, and the meadow is stirring with life
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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
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1
2
as in moving
to change one's position
the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stirring
Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Sandberg was inducted on July 31, 2005, and delivered a stirring speech that criticized the products of the steroid era.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Stir-fry doesn’t mean constant stirring—color equals flavor.
—Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
Cook, stirring often, until the pepper is soft, about 4 minutes.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Adjective
Brief, stirring sections from Noelle’s point of view bookend the novel, inviting us to decide whether April’s plan succeeded.
—Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Sandberg was inducted on July 31, 2005, and delivered a stirring speech that criticized the products of the steroid era.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Noun
Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Stir-fry doesn’t mean constant stirring—color equals flavor.
—Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Cook on high, stirring once halfway, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
Cook, stirring often, until the pepper is soft, about 4 minutes.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirring
Adjective
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There are countless breathtaking routes to traverse, from Maui to Lanai, but one of the most iconic trails is a loop around the Diamond Head Crater in Oahu.—
Kristine Thomason,
Outside,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Anthropic, the artificial intelligence (AI) company that emerged in 2026 as an existential threat to billions of market value, with each breathtaking new capability from its Claude model, is back with a warning about just how obsolete AI tools could make whole swathes of work.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Adolescence — roughly ages 10 to 19, according to the World Health Organization — is the critical window for developing confidence, a stable sense of identity and emotional regulation.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Google’s latest lawsuit pushes the company to do more, such as warning users about the risks of having long emotional conversations with its chatbot.—
The Los Angeles Times,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Opt for the spring or fall to enjoy the best of the city's buzzing outdoor markets and piazzas.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Tamarindo, a great stretch of beach for surfing, is equally famous for its nightlife, with buzzing spots like Chiquita's Tamarindo.—
Natalie Hammond,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her use of Auto-Tune and pitch-shifting won’t surprise anyone who’s heard either her solo records or her many collaborations with fellow Texas ambient composer claire rousay, but the context in which her voice is used might come as a shock.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The administration has offered shifting rationales and timelines since the start of the conflict.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The team also revealed that the resulting dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) fibers exhibit intrinsic softness, with an overall Young’s modulus of 37 MPa, enabling electrically controllable actuation modes with high freedom in bending, compression, and three-dimensional(3D) swirling motions.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
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That type of public funding may be harder to come by with so many questions now swirling around Hill and McCrory.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kiwis moving abroad is not uncommon, and more Kiwis generally are choosing to leave than before; in the year ending November 2025, almost 122,000 people emigrated, a 4% jump from the previous year and higher than a previous spike in 2012.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Ultimately, what this study’s findings highlight is that planning for a slow-moving, politically contentious issue like sea-level rise, one that doesn’t have the immediacy of a wildfire or an earthquake, is complex and constantly evolving.—
Marcos Magaña,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When not in the newsroom, Munis is often out on the streets with his camera, capturing the perfect portrait or settling in to watch a thought-provoking film.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
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While teasing Season 2 and what’s to come, the series’ creators tout the advantages the audio format offers for thought-provoking science fiction.—
Jordaan Ashley,
Variety,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Kurt's key takeaways Security updates rarely feel exciting.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Houston should be one of the most exciting teams in the tournament, and that’s in large part because of Flemings.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirring. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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