stirs (up)

verb

present tense third-person singular of stir (up)
as in provokes
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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirs (up)
  1. provokes
  2. raises
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
Verb
  • Raman said the police union was rewarding Bass in exchange for her approval of pay raises the city couldn’t afford.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
  • For Simmons and the Panthers, the loss raises questions about their ability to respond to adversity.
    — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of raises
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

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stirs (up)
stir (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Stirs (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirs%20%28up%29. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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