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
  • The best of these films are simultaneously suspenseful, thought-provoking and dazzling.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In 2012 American entrepreneur Russ George spread roughly 100 tons of iron in the North Pacific, provoking international criticism that a commercial venture had begun geoengineering without adequate oversight.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • Going forward, Republicans must be guided by core conservative principles grounded in free market economics, defense of constitutional rights, and the protection of human life, religious liberty and parental rights in raising their children.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The 1983 Social Security reforms included changes to benefits, such as gradually raising the retirement age from 65 to 67, delaying the cost-of-living adjustment by six months and taxing Social Security benefits.
    — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of raising
Verb
  • Popular iHeartRadio hosts and other social media personalities have been promoting them online as well.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The bond this year notes that $20 million will go toward promoting public-private partnerships.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 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 15 Nov. 2026.

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