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
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Something stirs beneath the surface as this mystifying energy takes hold, inviting us to explore the shadows, confront the truth and rise into transformation.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Produced by the Basra Cinema Center, of which Alkadumy is executive director, the film centers on Ahmed, a child with a speech impediment who is continually dismissed during Quranic lessons until defiance stirs within him, setting off a silent confrontation with his authoritative teacher.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
As long as sports remains the straw that stirs TV’s drink, the ad dollars will continue to roll right in.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
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
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
Verb
Yet, beneath this comforting picture, another reality stirs.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Something stirs beneath the surface as this mystifying energy takes hold, inviting us to explore the shadows, confront the truth and rise into transformation.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Produced by the Basra Cinema Center, of which Alkadumy is executive director, the film centers on Ahmed, a child with a speech impediment who is continually dismissed during Quranic lessons until defiance stirs within him, setting off a silent confrontation with his authoritative teacher.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
As long as sports remains the straw that stirs TV’s drink, the ad dollars will continue to roll right in.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
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
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
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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The camera then shifts to show the coin is not alone on the train rail.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
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The transmission generally shifts smoothly, but there’s such a racket from that transaxle and limited-slip differential, not to mention a huge amount of road noise coming up through the suspension, that any conversation will sound more like a shouting match out of necessity.—
Tim Stevens,
Robb Report,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mercury in Sagittarius provokes your mind to venture into uncharted territory.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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Blue Film provokes and captivates in equal measure, with the naked honesty of a black box off-off-Broadway play.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To start with a wedding, then wait ’til later to figure out the details of who washes the dishes and whether the toilet seat stays down, sounds backwards but is certainly better than hostage-taking and war without an achievable end.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
26 Oct. 2025
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Its Ozmo roller mop washes itself with hot water and dries with heated air.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The four-meter-wide telescope can detect faint shifts in light that reveal how plasma moves through the corona, allowing scientists to see the sun in unprecedented detail.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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As such, this is a program that will be very interesting to see develop over the coming years and one that the Russian Navy's key adversaries will be watching very closely, as this weapon moves toward operational capability.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Instead of scrolling through Instagram—or, admittedly, hitting the snooze button a few too many times—Vig encourages you to spend that time sprucing up your space.—
Kelsey Mulvey,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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In children and adolescents, physical activity promotes bone health; encourages healthy growth and the development of muscle; and improves motor and cognitive development.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The brand’s vegan protein shakes have a coconut-milk base and come in 20-gram, 26-gram, and 32-gram varieties, but the 20-gram seems to be the easiest to find.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Oct. 2025
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Occasional use of those protein powders isn’t as concerning as a person making protein shakes three times a day.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mercury entering Sagittarius today stimulates your creative faculties.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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The low-level, external electrical charge stimulates the body’s internal repair mechanism.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stirs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirs. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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