stirring (up)

verb

Definition of stirring (up)next
present participle of stir (up)
as in provoking
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 stirring (up)
  1. provoking
  2. raising
  3. promoting
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, 13 July 2026
  • Its New York chapter’s response to the October 7 mass murder and mass rape of Israeli civilians was to blame Israel for provoking the attacks.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • Instead of raising expensive new money from outside investors, parent companies extracted equity from their nonbank subsidiaries and funneled it into their commercial bank arms.
    — Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Later, the Moon squares combative Mars, raising the odds of sharp words and impatient reactions.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
Definition of raising
Verb
  • Lemon balm, which aids sleep by promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 17, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Ads promoting Democratic candidates, on the other hand, shy away from specific policy proposals.
    — Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 17 July 2026
Definition of promoting
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.

Browse Nearby Words

stirrings
stirring (up)
stirs
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Cite this Entry

“Stirring (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirring%20%28up%29. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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