stirring (up)

verb

Definition of stirring (up)next
present participle of stir (up)
as in provoking
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stirring (up)
  1. provoking
  2. raising
  3. promoting
Verb
  • From this format emerges the tacit thesis that the Bicentennial cultural activities excelled at provoking critical, imaginative reflections on America’s past and future from artmakers and from ordinary citizens alike.
    — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This year, the event will once again feature panels, thought-provoking conversations, roundtables, networking opportunities and activations, along with the celebrated Billboard En Vivo performances.
    — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • In bidding to halt Howard's execution, his attorneys had filed a motion hours earlier before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals raising concerns about the quality of Texas' execution drugs.
    — JAMIE STENGLE, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Governments are borrowing heavily to finance fiscal deficits, while companies are raising funds to invest in emerging technologies, creating an imbalance that could keep upward pressure on interest rates.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of raising
Verb
  • The property has 21 private cottages, each simple, calming, and tech-free, promoting deep rest and focus.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Broadcasters also lost interest in promoting the show as its ratings and their Emmy hauls declined amid the rise of HBO, cable channels AMC and FX, and streamers, including Netflix.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of promoting
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

stirrings
stirring (up)
stirs
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Cite this Entry

“Stirring (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stirring%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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