STIRS Synonyms: 265 Similar and Opposite Words

stirs 1 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of stir

as in swirls

to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly the recipe says to stir the mixture carefully until it's properly blended

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as in shifts

to change one's position the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet

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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

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stirs

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of stir

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

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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

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stirs

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of stir, slang

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

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outsides

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of stirs

Verb

Skeleton Tree at Rumi’s Kitchen Perfect for the midnight cocktail hour, Rumi’s stirs together a black Manhattan with Persian spice. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Watching polygamous families, Surya says, stirs pity, judgment and empathy in her, as well as fascination with the camaraderie, rivalry and sisterhood between the women. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Continue reading … STAR POWER CLASH — DHS fires back at rock singer after anti-ICE concert eruption stirs outrage. — FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Understanding the scope of human suffering and hopelessness in our world stirs a strong internal conflict between empathy and pragmatism. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026 While science is often perceived as cold and overly logical, for Schroeder its practice stirs a humility and appreciation for the vastness of nature and the depth of time. — Brad Balukjian, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026 Her arrival stirs enough secrets, crushes, and shifting loyalties to fill an eight-episode TV show. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 Perched along Positano’s cliffs, the hotel soothes the soul and stirs the senses. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 But after two decades in the rearview, Pluto’s demotion still stirs anger and controversy, and many people regard its change in status as a very bad thing. — Mike Brown, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026

Noun

Refrigerated pie crust helps this pie come together with just a few stirs of the whisk. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirs

Verb

But unlike when Kruger first started producing conceptual art some five decades ago, similar language now swirls all around us more than ever.

— Amy Verner, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
Max Martin, Grande sings of blowing through breakups and make-ups and enduring mounting exhaustion with mass notoriety while the music swirls patiently and frequently angrily underneath.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of swirls

Verb

Their goal was for the album to tell a story of radicalization, following a protagonist who shifts from complacency to an awareness of injustice and institutional oppression, and ultimately resolves to act against it.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
This then shifts the star’s color away from the more typical orange, white, and blue.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of shifts

Verb

Along with their organization’s missions, the pair picked horror because of the conversations the genre provokes.

— Isabelle Farina, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
Another question, says Professor Trotti at Ithaca College, is whether a public execution portrays strength or provokes horror.

— Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of provokes

Noun

At least two unmarked vehicles were parked in the area of the jails Wednesday.

— Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2026
Under the ordinance, all healthcare facilities will be required to allow the partners of a patient to visit, as will jails in the city’s jurisdiction.

— Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of jails

Verb

Tatcha’s creamy cleanser gently washes the day away with an amino acid base, while Okinawa algae and hyaluronic acid deeply nourish the skin and replenish its water reserve.

— Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
My mom, sister, colleagues, and best friends are all hooked on the comfy-chic pair that washes well, fits like a dream, and looks incredible.

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of washes

Verb

As the train passes under the Royal Gorge Bridge, Clawson encourages me to open the cab window, lean back, and look up.

— Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
By featuring these leading organizations, the ranking sets a benchmark for employers across APAC and encourages businesses to place employee wellbeing, development, and inclusion at the core of their people strategies.

— TIME Staff, Time, 3 Nov. 2026