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
Mike Wall, Space.com, 5 Apr. 2026
After a half-hour opening ceremony, featuring a light show, fireworks and a stirring rending of the national anthem by Marc Anthony, the game began.
—Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Grab your trusty Dutch oven and get to stirring.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Eddie Pells, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
But those seemed better suited to people who wanted to win hearts and minds through stirring oratory.
—Eli Durst, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Adjective
The parallels between the Artemis 2 and Apollo 8 moon missions now include a stirring holiday message.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 5 Apr. 2026
After a half-hour opening ceremony, featuring a light show, fireworks and a stirring rending of the national anthem by Marc Anthony, the game began.
—Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
Any outdoor fires should be extinguished properly, such as by using plenty of water and stirring until everything is cold to the touch.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Grab your trusty Dutch oven and get to stirring.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
There will still be room for those stirring runs in the tournaments, though not a single mid-major advanced past the first weekend of either tournament the last two seasons.
—Eddie Pells, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
But those seemed better suited to people who wanted to win hearts and minds through stirring oratory.
—Eli Durst, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirring
Adjective
-
The clear turquoise waters of the Outer Hebrides are breathtaking–freezing–but breathtaking!—
Riza Cruz,
Vogue,
11 May 2026
-
The park was established in 1910 and features seemingly endless acres of rugged and breathtaking landscapes and historic national park lodges.—
Dave Parfitt,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Language development, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and relationship-building all begin before age three.—
Tina Dello Russo,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
The set was an emotional roller coaster with four deuces and eight service errors by the Highlanders.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Along my walkway and all over my neighborhood, nasturtium flowers are opening like bright orange suns, fragrant lavender is attracting buzzing bees, and rosemary bushes are beginning to brighten with baby blue flowers.—
Senior Food Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
-
Drawing inspiration from both family recipes and a buzzing street food culture, Ngon’s dishes are vibrant and packed with flavor.—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The conventions of American journalism don’t serve this shifting, multi-sided reality well.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Land borders dispute since 1948 The creation of the state of Israel in 1948, which led to the mass displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians and a subsequent Arab-Israeli war in 1948, led to a further shifting of borders in the region.—
Mireille Rebeiz,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The dark matter By looking at how the emission lines in the spectrum were broadened by the Doppler effect, Nakajima and his colleagues measured that the gas is swirling around inside the galaxy at roughly 58 kilometers per second, a rather typical value for dwarf galaxies.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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Media reports are swirling that L’Oréal is in discussions to acquire a majority stake in Innovist, an Indian personal care company that includes brands such as Bare Anatomy, Chemist at Play and Sunscoop in its portfolio.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Adjust the pace, keep moving, and follow what feels expansive.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
The company evaluates Prime Day timing annually and felt that moving the event earlier in the summer was the best fit for customers this year, an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC Select.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The anti-camping bill, HB 1365, allowed residents to sue their local governments for non-enforcement, provoking fears that people with nowhere to sleep but the streets could face arrest.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Anderson, like Wharton, is exciting but would also be extremely expensive, probably north of £100million.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
March 21 – April 19 A bold move could set exciting momentum in motion today.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirring. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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