1
as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
the message of brotherhood in Martin Luther King's stirring "I Have a Dream" speech still resonates today
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2
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies
a stirring rendition of the national anthem
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3
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity
spring has arrived, and the meadow is stirring with life
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as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position
I thought I detected a slight stirring of the leaves, and yet there wasn't a breath of wind
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1
2
as in moving
to change one's position
the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet
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3
as in provoking
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stirring
Piet Levy, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
The artist Amy Sherald is known for her stirring portraits of First Lady Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor, and often uses grayscale to complicate representations of race in portraiture.
—Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Jenna Anderson, Health, 19 Jan. 2025
Aim for about 20 seconds of stirring, which creates the right balance of dilution without watering it down too much.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally until almost soft, about 5 minutes.
—Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Adjective
And for anyone who didn't fit in that category, Thursday's performance was a stirring reminder of just how rich and singular the band's catalog really is.
—Piet Levy, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
The artist Amy Sherald is known for her stirring portraits of First Lady Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor, and often uses grayscale to complicate representations of race in portraiture.
—Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
The hot temperature, the water exposure—even the stirring of the spoon can cause tea bags to leach plastic, García-Rodríguez explained.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 19 Jan. 2025
Aim for about 20 seconds of stirring, which creates the right balance of dilution without watering it down too much.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally until almost soft, about 5 minutes.
—Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stirring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirring
Adjective
-
The chef’s kitchen is just as impressive, decked out with a stone pizza oven, high-end appliances, and dramatic picture windows that showcase the breathtaking city-to-ocean views.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
26 Mar. 2025
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Beneath the breathtaking view of the Camelback and Mummy Mountains, Taylor and Hooker exchanged both handwritten and traditional vows.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Her emotional response and (to be fair, unethical) choice to threaten the guy suggest to the viewer that Dr. Santos herself experienced a similar kind of trauma as a child.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
-
It wasn’t scripted that Robby gets emotional and breaks down at [that] particular point in the speech….—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Home care workers who provide assistance to elderly and disabled Californians could see more wage equality, according to a recent labor report, by shifting contract negotiations to the state level instead of bargaining individually with California’s 56 individual counties.—
William Melhado,
Sacramento Bee,
8 Jan. 2025
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The combination of low humidity, dry fuels, and shifting winds has heightened the potential for spot fires and rapid expansion.—
Russell Lewis,
NPR,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This will deepen the divide between the global North and South on issues of race and cultural difference, straining the West’s diplomatic relations with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America while provoking broader resentment toward Western countries seen as perpetuating racial hierarchies.—
Matias Spektor,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
-
In 2008, the United States suggested that Georgia and Ukraine might eventually join the alliance but offered no concrete path to membership, thus provoking Russia without effectively deterring it.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
However, for tech-minded shoppers, the sale’s most exciting deals probably involve Apple products.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Honda exec Megan Amic took to the red carpet ahead of the show to speak about the partnership, which comes at an exciting time amid award wins, festival booking and more for the R&B superstar.—
James Dinh,
Billboard,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Lewis comes in ranked No. 9, so a victory from Teixeira—especially an impressive one—will likely land him in the Top 10.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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While his Jackhammer is an impressive feat of strength, the Spear is what made Goldberg a monster.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Mission Beach tower is the busiest in the entire city, and the beach’s popularity with tourists makes emergencies more likely there.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
-
After two years of busy construction, John and Mable had completed their 56-room Mediterranean Revival masterpiece in 1926, at a time when no homes of such scope existed in Sarasota.—
Thao Thai,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While moderate to severe ailments require a certain amount of rest and recovery, mild ones might improve with movement.—
Andrew Torgan,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The Tesla Takedown movement is urging people to sell their Tesla cars and stock.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirring. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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