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
Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
At the same time, your home and personal life are evolving, as Uranus in Gemini stirs things up between your personal and professional life.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
As the rise of artificial intelligence stirs anxiety over the technology taking people's jobs, AI is also opening pathways to new careers, according to LinkedIn.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
If travel, coursework, or a belief debate stirs friction, skip arguing about theory in favor of grounding the talk with real-life examples.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
The intuitive Moon stirs your 7th House of Companionship, squaring fortuitous Jupiter in your 4th House of Care, so promises and comfort could pull in opposite directions.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
In a cave that sheltered freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad, their uncle shares a story of a creature that stirs at night.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Where the pre-retroshade plants seeds and the retrograde stirs them up, the post-retroshade is where clarity arrives and choices get made.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Creative courage returns as the instinctive Moon conjoins mischievous Mercury in your 5th House of Play, urging you to express whatever stirs within.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2026
Patricia S York, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
By evening, the Aries Moon stirs private ambition and a stronger inner conviction about what comes next.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
At the same time, your home and personal life are evolving, as Uranus in Gemini stirs things up between your personal and professional life.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
As the rise of artificial intelligence stirs anxiety over the technology taking people's jobs, AI is also opening pathways to new careers, according to LinkedIn.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
If travel, coursework, or a belief debate stirs friction, skip arguing about theory in favor of grounding the talk with real-life examples.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
The intuitive Moon stirs your 7th House of Companionship, squaring fortuitous Jupiter in your 4th House of Care, so promises and comfort could pull in opposite directions.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
In a cave that sheltered freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad, their uncle shares a story of a creature that stirs at night.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Where the pre-retroshade plants seeds and the retrograde stirs them up, the post-retroshade is where clarity arrives and choices get made.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Creative courage returns as the instinctive Moon conjoins mischievous Mercury in your 5th House of Play, urging you to express whatever stirs within.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 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
-
To load the product onto the brush, Barnes swirls the tool into the pan twice and taps it twice to prevent fallout.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
12 Dec. 2025
-
The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
The jet stream also shifts northward, typically pushing winter storms toward the Pacific Northwest and Canada while leaving swaths of California drier than average, especially in the south.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
But the question of what is true or not is futile, even if Calle deliberately provokes this curiosity.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The flurry of imagery provokes a surreal sort of whiplash.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
General Daily Insight for May 17, 2026 Fresh thinking moves faster than our usual filters today.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
If Rodgers and the Steelers are going to raise their ceiling in Year 2, several offseason moves need to pay dividends.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
As a result, families are struggling with the rising cost of living, limited access to county services, unsafe conditions in county jails, and aging infrastructure that has not been maintained.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
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He was taken to the ICE detention facility in Broadview and eventually transferred to other jails in several states, where he was denied access to heart medication over more than two months while in custody, according to his declaration.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Rain typically washes pollen out of the air.—
Keerti Gopal,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
-
Scientists at the University of Miami have found that some sargassum, the brown seaweed that regularly washes ashore on Florida's beaches, may have a different origin than previously anticipated.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Responding to comments, asking for feedback, and giving shout-outs to active viewers fosters a sense of community and encourages continued engagement.—
Adam Rumanek,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
-
The moon in Taurus encourages you to go with the flow and stop forcing an outcome.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stirs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirs. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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