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
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
But when the phone rang a week later, the 24-year-old was given a stirring slap of reality.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Andy Mitten, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Bake 30 minutes or until golden stirring every 10 minutes.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
But Taylor Swift‘s forthcoming album is big enough to be stirring a return to that bygone phenomenon.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Adjective
James Folta’s nice thing of the week involves a stirring and unexpected reunion with a Proustian cheese.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
But when the phone rang a week later, the 24-year-old was given a stirring slap of reality.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Before every game, as the players gather in the tunnel, the first stirring chords of The Stone Roses’ anthem ‘This Is the One’ are played.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Bake 30 minutes or until golden stirring every 10 minutes.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Cook stirring frequently until walnuts are coated, about 5 to 6 minutes.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
But Taylor Swift‘s forthcoming album is big enough to be stirring a return to that bygone phenomenon.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirring
Adjective
-
Imagine pumpkin spice, crisp fresh air, fresh applies and breathtaking fall colors.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Some exchanges were breathtaking — to them, certainly, and to those in the stands who gasped at the power during longer points.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is the Oscar-winning director's first-ever acting Emmy nomination, and his daughter Francesca shared his emotional reaction to being nominated.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Their emotional personal stories helped fuel the popularity of lotteries.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The space itself — bright, polished, and buzzing — sets the tone for a brunch that’s chic without being stiff.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Their move back to the Taiwanese capital, where the mother sets up a food stand in a buzzing night market, brings them into closer proximity with her family.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the combination of a winter break, some additional scheduling imbalances to help the league’s coldest markets, and perhaps even the shifting of Leagues Cup on the annual schedule should make those challenges solvable.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
-
The self is a shifting, inconstant phenomenon, brain and body ever transforming in time and space, with no clear delineation between what is self and what is other.—
Lauren Groff,
The Atlantic,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Trump not only addressed the rumors swirling about his death and health in the speech to his top allies, but also the controversial changes to the historic rose garden.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Thaksin’s hospital case Speculation is now swirling in Thailand that Thaksin may not return.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Woolen was running stride-for-stride with Pearsall but misplayed the ball and slowed down while the second-year wideout kept moving forward.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Cavitation, on the other hand, provides a high-energy, controllable launch system that doesn’t require onboard power or moving parts.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
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,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Follow Scheffler for destination stories, travel trends and thought-provoking conversations from the world of travel.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Other exciting territory in The Grand Finale involved Mary’s changing relationship with the other Crawley women.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That’s more exciting to me than last year, when James swept the fiction categories, with even the Pulitzer board overriding their fiction judges to award the big prize to Percival Everett’s novel.—
Maris Kreizman,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirring. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share