1
2
as in shifts
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 provokes
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
1
as in commotions
a state of noisy, confused activity
the plane's first jolt caused a stir among the passengers, and by the third one they were in a panic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in moves
the act or an instance of changing position
we were warned that the slightest stir would scare the mother bird so we hardly dared to breathe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in jails
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the mule had just got out of stir and was being followed by the feds, who had their sights set on the kingpin of the operation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stirs
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
The Ryder Cup, too, stirs intense concentrations of emotion given the team format.
—Kevin Coulson, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
You're being pulled beneath the surface and something ancient stirs in the black below.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Not with how much the Wild are banking on Kaprizov to be the straw that stirs the drink for the foreseeable future.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
His arrival stirs faint whispers under the Song statues and quietly nudges Hongmei’s buried past toward the surface.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
This stirs an uneasy thought in the astrobiologist’s mind.
—Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Big Think, 17 Sep. 2025
The video, which resurfaces in her Google memories each year around her daughter’s birthday, always stirs something complicated.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
For decades, scientists have considered the moon a dead world—a silent, unchanging landscape where nothing stirs.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
What stirs the last phrase is an impatience with cliché.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
The Ryder Cup, too, stirs intense concentrations of emotion given the team format.
—Kevin Coulson, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
You're being pulled beneath the surface and something ancient stirs in the black below.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Not with how much the Wild are banking on Kaprizov to be the straw that stirs the drink for the foreseeable future.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
His arrival stirs faint whispers under the Song statues and quietly nudges Hongmei’s buried past toward the surface.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
This stirs an uneasy thought in the astrobiologist’s mind.
—Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Big Think, 17 Sep. 2025
The video, which resurfaces in her Google memories each year around her daughter’s birthday, always stirs something complicated.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
For decades, scientists have considered the moon a dead world—a silent, unchanging landscape where nothing stirs.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirs
Verb
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The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
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But as the trial date approaches and uncertainty swirls over what the lawsuit could mean for the future of stock car racing, many of the team owners expressed a feeling of urgency to see the litigation resolved and indicated the current charter system was vital for their continued existence.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Separately, Aramco has put three domestic chemicals plants on hold as it shifts capital spending toward expansion in Asia, Bloomberg reported.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
But every once in a while, someone shifts your entire perspective.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Through her restraint, Roberts provokes in us some semblance of empathy for her character – in a movie where everyone else is basically monstrous.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Every action provokes a reaction.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Its Ozmo roller mop washes itself with hot water and dries with heated air.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Unlike on Earth, however, where rain washes dust from the air, Martian dust can linger for months.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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This design is lighter than traditional night vision systems and places the weight in a way that moves with the soldier.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sharing their positive experiences encourages others, especially younger or shier players, to seek help.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Additionally, a spacious roof terrace provides a communal space for residents that encourages them to get fresh air.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Yet Leto never shakes the role’s robotic nature, even as his character strives to become more human, and his acting partners struggle to play off that in a meaningful way.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
-
These days, the Detroit area gets more love from the outside world, but the auto industry, while certainly healthier, never fully shakes nagging questions about its future, particularly now with worries about competition from China and tariff uncertainties.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Castor oil contains something called ricinoleic acid, which stimulates smooth muscle (the small and large intestines each contain multiple layers) and can mimic the effects of a laxative.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
8 Oct. 2025
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Nostalgia stimulates positive emotional experiences, as well as improving an individual's self-esteem.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stirs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirs. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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