fanning

verb

Definition of fanningnext
present participle of fan
1
as in igniting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oscillating

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fanning
  1. igniting
  2. swaying
  3. inciting
  4. stirring
  5. sparking
  6. provoking
  7. inducing
  8. encouraging
Verb
  • In the culinary world, that spirit reveals itself in simple ingredients turning into delicious symphonies inclusive to this Eastern European land, igniting the nation’s residents, the Polish diaspora, and those keen to discover new, authentic tastes to unite over the Alexandra Foods dining table.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Beyond Somalia, this recognition is a slippery slope entailing a domino effect of separatist movements across the region igniting conflicts in pursuit of independence, leading to unimaginable chaos.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of igniting
Verb
  • Residents in Sacramento saw ornaments on a Christmas tree sway, water sloshing in a swimming pool, and a computer swaying for a few seconds, according to the Los Angeles Times.
    Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Key Background The swaying light shows formed by aurora borealis are caused by magnetic storms triggered by activity on the sun’s surface.
    Ty Roush, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of swaying
Verb
  • Virgo Competition may arise with coworkers, inciting them to take credit for your ideas.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Authorities accuse them of inciting attacks against security forces and disturbing public peace.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
Definition of inciting
Verb
  • Add carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
    Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Barbaro’s performance is stirring, her falsetto fine and opalescent.
    Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of stirring
Verb
  • Their lives collide in a virtual reality world, where a mystical deer reveals hidden truths, sparking a journey of discovery and connection.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Their rivalry has been sparking laughs—and debates—for decades, from cheeky ads to viral moments.
    Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of sparking
Verb
  • The most emotion-provoking parts of this episode for me are the Travis segments, and the main emotion those scenes provoke is irritation.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
  • With millions of square feet of expo space to explore, hundreds of thought-provoking sessions to attend and more than half of the Fortune 500 expected to meet up with, planning is key to getting the most from the show.
    Martine Paris, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • This fine, sob-inducing British series follows two friends (Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall) who feel romance tugging at their hearts for years and years and years.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The emotional reality of living in Iran while holding views that oppose the state, the movie suggests, is anxiety-inducing—almost unfathomably so for those who have never dealt with such restrictions.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of inducing
Verb
  • The philosophy prioritizes profit over growth, encouraging businesses to optimize existing resources and reactivate past customer connections.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
  • In light of these statistics, organizations are increasingly pushing consumers toward chatbots, emails and FAQs, encouraging customers to figure out their own problems.
    Todd Fisher, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of encouraging
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near fanning

fannies

fanning

fanning (out)

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Fanning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fanning. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fanning

Nglish: Translation of fanning for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of fanning for Arabic Speakers

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